Basic Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2003. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 15, 2003; 9(2): 329-333
Published online Feb 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i2.329
Effects of palmatine on potassium and calcium currents in isolated rat hepatocytes
Fang Wang, Hong-Yi Zhou, Lan Cheng, Gang Zhao, Ji Zhou, Li-Ying Fu, Wei-Xing Yao
Fang Wang, Hong-Yi Zhou, Lan Cheng, Ji Zhou, Li-Ying Fu, Wei-Xing Yao, Department of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
Gang Zhao, Department of Pancreatic Surgery Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Fang Wang, Department of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China. wangfang0322@yahoo.com.cn
Telephone: +86-27-83692033
Received: September 14, 2002
Revised: October 4, 2002
Accepted: October 17, 2002
Published online: February 15, 2003
Abstract

AIM: To study the effects of palmatine, a known inhibitor on delayed rectifier potassium current and L-type calcium current (ICa,L) in guinea pig ventricular myocytes, on the potassium and calcium currents in isolated rat hepatocytes.

METHODS: Tight-seal whole-cell patch-clamp techniques were performed to investigate the effects of palmatine on the delayed outward potassium currents (IK), inward rectifier potassium current (IK1) and Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ current (ICRAC) in enzymatically isolated rat hepatocytes.

RESULTS: Palmatine 0.3-100 μM reduced IK in a concentration-dependent manner with EC50 of 41.62 ± 10.11 μM and nH, 0.48 ± 0.07 (n = 8). The effect of the drug was poorly reversible after washout. When the bath solution was changed to tetraethylammonium (TEA) 8 mM, IK was inhibited. Palmatine 10 μM and 100 μM shifted the I-V curves of IK downward, and the block of IK was voltage-independent. Palmatine 0.3-100 μM also inhibited ICRAC in a concentration-dependent manner. The fitting parameters were as follows: EC50 = 51.19 ± 15.18 mM, and nH = 0.46 ± 0.07 (n = 8). The peak value of ICRAC in the I-V relationship was decreased by palmatine 10 μM and 100 μM. But the reverse potential of ICRAC occurred at Voltage = 0 mV in all cells. Palmatine 0.3-100 μM failed to have any significant effect on either inward or outward components of IK1 at any membrane potential examined.

CONCLUSION: The inhibitory effects on IK and ICRAC could be one of the mechanisms that palmatine exerts protective effect on hepatocytes.

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