Key result
Depolarizing membrane current stops spontaneous contractions in embryonic heart cells with a ~35-msec time constant.
Why the study?
The effects of membrane current on transmembrane potentials and contraction rates in cultured myocardial cells were not fully characterized.
Comparison
Depolarizing current vs hyperpolarizing current effects on membrane potential and contraction
Design
Preclinical experimental study using microelectrode current injection and potential measurement
Authors
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Direct membrane time constant estimation is feasible in cultured chick myocytes; leaves open translation to mammalian or clinical electrophysiology.
Voltage clamping of the plateau phase appears feasible in tissue cultures of myocardial cells based on the measurement of membrane time constants and responses to applied currents.
Crill et al. (1959) studied Cultured chick embryo heart cells. Membrane current was evaluated on Membrane time constant and effect on contraction rate. Application of membrane current in cultured chick embryo heart cells demonstrated a mean membrane time constant of 35 ± 1 msec, with depolarizing current stopping spontaneous contractions.
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