Abstract
A number of distinct electrophysiological mechanisms that modulate the myogenic spontaneous pacemaker activity in the sinoatrial node (SAN) of the mammalian heart have been investigated extensively. There is agreement that several (3 or 4) different transmembrane ionic current changes (referred to as the voltage clock) are involved; and that the resulting net current interacts with direct and indirect effects of changes in intracellular Ca(2+) (the calcium clock). However, significant uncertainties, and important knowledge gaps, remain concerning the functional roles in SAN spontaneous pacing of many of the individual ion channel- or exchanger-mediated transmembrane current changes. We report results from patch clamp studies and mathematical modeling of the hyperpolarization-activated current, I(f), in the generation/modulation of the diastolic depolarization, or pacemaker potential, produced by individual myocytes that were enzymatically isolated from the adult mouse sinoatrial node (SAN). Amphotericin-mediated patch microelectrode recordings at 35 °C were made under control conditions and in the presence of 5 or 10 nM isoproterenol (ISO). These sets of results were complemented and integrated with mathematical modeling of the current changes that take place in the range of membrane potentials (-70 to -50 mV), which corresponds to the 'pacemaker depolarization' in the adult mouse SAN. Our results reveal a very small, but functionally important, approximately steady-state or time-independent current generated by residual activation of I(f) channels that are expressed in these pacemaker myocytes. Recordings of the pacemaker depolarization and action potential, combined with measurements of changes in I(f), and the well-known increases in the L-type Ca(2+) current, I(CaL), demonstrated that I(CaL) activation, is essential for myogenic pacing. Moreover, after being enhanced (approximately 3-fold) by 5 or 10 nM ISO, I(CaL) contributes significantly to the positive chronotropic effect. Our mathematical model has been developed in an attempt to better understand the underlying mechanisms for the pacemaker depolarization and action potential in adult mouse SAN myocytes. After being updated with our new experimental data describing I(f), our simulations reveal a novel functional component of I(f) in adult mouse SAN. Computational work carried out with this model also confirms that in the presence of ISO the residual activation of I(f) and opening of I(CaL) channels combine to generate a net current change during the slow diastolic depolarization phase that is essential for the observed accelerated pacemaking rate of these SAN myocytes.