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Int J Biol Sci 2009; 5(2):201-204. doi:10.7150/ijbs.5.201 This issue Cite

Short Research Communication

Is sodium current present in human sinoatrial node cells?

Arie O. Verkerk^✉, Ronald Wilders, Marcel M.G.J. van Borren, Hanno L. Tan

Heart Failure Research Center, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

✉ Correspondence to: Dr. Arie O. Verkerk, Department of Physiology, Academic Medical Center, PO Box 22700, 1100 DE Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Phone: +31-20-5664644; Fax: +31-20-6976177; E-mail: A.O.Verkerkuva.nl

Abstract

Pacemaker activity of the sinoatrial node has been studied extensively in various animal species, but is virtually unexplored in man. As such, it is unknown whether the fast sodium current (I_Na) plays a role in the pacemaker activity of the human sinoatrial node. Recently, we had the unique opportunity to perform patch-clamp experiments on single pacemaker cells isolated from a human sinoatrial node. In 2 out of the 3 cells measured, we observed large inward currents with characteristics of I_Na. Although we were unable to analyze the current in detail, our findings provide strong evidence that I_Na is present in human sinoatrial node pacemaker cells, and that this I_Na is functionally available at potentials negative to -60 mV.

Keywords: action potentials, humans, ion channels, sinoatrial node, sodium channels

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