Pharmacological inhibition of I(K) (1) by PA‐6 in isolated rat hearts affects ventricular repolarization and refractoriness

The inwardly rectifying potassium current (I(K) (1)) conducted through K(ir)2.X channels contribute to repolarization of the cardiac action potential and to stabilization of the resting membrane potential in cardiomyocytes. Our aim was to investigate the effect of the recently discovered I(K) (1) inhibitor PA‐6 on action potential repolarization and refractoriness in isolated rat hearts. Transiently transfected HEK‐293 cells expressing I(K) (1) were voltage‐clamped with ramp protocols. Langendorff‐perfused heart experiments were performed on male Sprague–Dawley rats, effective refractory period, Wenckebach cycle length, and ventricular effective refractory period were determined following 200 nmol/L PA‐6 perfusion. 200 nmol/L PA‐6 resulted in a significant time‐latency in drug effect on the I(K) (1) current expressed in HEK‐293 cells, giving rise to a maximal effect at 20 min. In the Langendorff‐perfused heart experiments, PA‐6 prolonged the ventricular action potential duration at 90% repolarization (from 41.8 ± 6.5 msec to 72.6 ± 21.1 msec, 74% compared to baseline, P < 0.01, n = 6). In parallel, PA‐6 significantly prolonged the ventricular effective refractory period compared to baseline (from 34.8 ± 4.6 msec to 58.1 ± 14.7 msec, 67%, P < 0.01, n = 6). PA‐6 increased the short‐term beat‐to‐beat variability and ventricular fibrillation was observed in two of six hearts. Neither atrial ERP nor duration of atrial fibrillation was altered following PA‐6 application. The results show that pharmacological inhibition of cardiac I(K) (1) affects ventricular action potential repolarization and refractoriness and increases the risk of ventricular arrhythmia in isolated rat hearts.