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Isolated, spontaneously beating rabbit sinoatrial node cells were subjected to longitudinal stretch, using carbon fibers attached to both ends of the cell. Their electrical behavior was studied simultaneously in current-clamp or voltage-clamp mode using the perforated patch configuration. Moderate stretch ( approximately 7%) caused an increase in spontaneous beating rate (by approximately 5%) and a reduction in maximum diastolic and systolic potentials (by approximately 2.5%), as seen in multicellular preparations. Mathematical modeling of the stretch intervention showed the experimental results to be compatible with stretch activation of cation nonselective ion channels, similar to those found in other cardiac cell populations. Voltage-clamp experiments validated the presence of a stretch-induced current component with a reversal potential near -11 mV. These data confirm, for the first time, that the positive chronotropic response of the heart to stretch is, at least in part, encoded on the level of individual sinoatrial node pacemaker cells; all reported data are in agreement with a major contribution of stretch-activated cation nonselective channels to this response.

Original publication

DOI

10.1152/jappl.2000.89.5.2099

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Appl Physiol (1985)

Publication Date

11/2000

Volume

89

Pages

2099 - 2104

Keywords

Animals, Biological Clocks, Cells, Cultured, Computer Simulation, Feedback, Membrane Potentials, Models, Biological, Myocardial Contraction, Patch-Clamp Techniques, Rabbits, Sinoatrial Node, Stress, Mechanical