Interrelation between pinacidil and intracellular ATP concentrations on activation of the ATP-sensitive K+ current in guinea pig ventricular myocytes.

The patch-clamp technique was used to study the relation between pinacidil and intracellular ATP concentration [( ATP]i) on the activation of the outward K+ current in guinea pig ventricular myocytes. Pinacidil shortened the action potential duration, exhibiting stronger effect at 2 mM [ATP]i than at 5 mM [ATP]i. Pinacidil at 5 microM or higher concentrations activated the time-independent outward current at potentials positive to -80 mV, and the pinacidil-activated current was suppressed by increasing [ATP]i from 2 to 5 mM. The dose-response curve of pinacidil at different [ATP]i showed a shift to the right and a depression of the maximum response at increased [ATP]i. The pinacidil-induced shortening of the action potential duration and outward current were inhibited by application of 0.3-1.0 microM glibenclamide. In single-channel current recordings, pinacidil activated the intracellular ATP-sensitive K+ channel current without changing the unitary amplitude, and increased open probability of the channel, an effect dependent on [ATP]i. The pinacidil-activated single-channel current was blocked by glibenclamide. These results prove the notion that pinacidil activates the ATP-sensitive K+ channel current, which explains the action potential shortening in cardiac cells after application of pinacidil.