Figure 2.
Current density of inward rectifier current (IK1) in ventricular myocytes isolated from control and failing ventricles. Representative families of currents recorded from a holding potential of −20 mV in response to voltage steps of 500 ms from −150 mV to 50 mV in 20 mV increments in cells isolated from control (A) and failing (B) myocardium. The tracings shown are Ba2+-sensitive currents. The horizontal lines to the left of the current records indicate the zero-current level. C. The steady-state inward IK1 density is significantly reduced in cells isolated from failing (-■-, N=4 rabbits, n=8 cells) compared to cells isolated from control myocardium (-○-, N=4, n=9). D. The outward component of IK1 tends to decrease but the difference between cells isolated from control and failing hearts did not reach statistical significance. Mean ± SEM, *: p<0.05 vs. control.