Chloride conductance pathways in heart

Am J Physiol. 1991 Sep;261(3 Pt 1):C399-412. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.1991.261.3.C399.

Abstract

Nonelectrogenic movement of Cl- is believed to be responsible for the active accumulation of intracellular Cl- in cardiac muscle. The electro-neutral pathways underlying this nonpassive distribution of Cl- are believed to include Cl(-)-HCO3- exchange, Na(+)-dependent cotransport (operating as Na(+)-Cl- and Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- cotransport), and K(+)-Cl- cotransport. The electrogenic movement of Cl- in cardiac muscle is particularly interesting from a historical perspective. Until recently, there was some doubt as to whether Cl- carried any current in the heart. Early microelectrode experiments indicated that a Cl- conductance probably played an important role in regulating action potential duration and resting membrane potential. Subsequent voltage-clamp experiments identified a repolarizing, transient outward current that was believed to be conducted by Cl-, yet further investigation suggested that this transient outward current was more likely a K+ current, not a Cl- current. This left some doubt as to whether Cl- played any role in regulating membrane potential in cardiac muscle. More recent studies, however, have identified a highly selective Cl- conductance that is regulated by intracellular adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, and it appears that this Cl- current may play an important role in the regulation of action potential duration and resting membrane potential.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chloride Channels
  • Chlorides / metabolism*
  • Cyclic AMP / physiology
  • Electrophysiology / methods
  • Female
  • Heart / physiology*
  • Ion Channels / physiology*
  • Membrane Potentials
  • Membrane Proteins / physiology*
  • Pregnancy

Substances

  • Chloride Channels
  • Chlorides
  • Ion Channels
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Cyclic AMP