Summary
The effects of hypoxia on different parameters of cell membrane function were studied in 7 and 19 day chick embryonic hearts. The following changes were observed.
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1.
Transmembrane potential: A depolarization of the cell membrane and a decrease in the duration and in the overshoot of the action potential.
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2.
Intracellular ion concentrations: A decrease in (K)i and an increase in (Na)i. Cellular Ca-content remained constant.
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3.
K efflux: An increase in the rate coefficient, which was larger in stimulated preparations.
These changes were more pronounced in 19 day than in 7 day hearts. The effects of hypoxia were increased by simultaneous substrate depletion and counteracted by an excess external glucose. We conclude that.
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1.
The 19 day hearts are more sensitive to oxygen lack than the 7 day hearts. This difference can be correlated with the observation that the younger hearts are able to consume more glycogen during hypoxia.
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2.
The changes of the resting membrane potential and the overshoot of the action potential correlate with changes in respectively (K)i and (Na)i.
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3.
An increase in the background K current may be an important factor in explaining the shortening of the action potential during hypoxia.
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Vleugels, A., Carmeliet, E., Bosteels, S. et al. Differential effects of hypoxia with age on the chick embryonic heart. Pflugers Arch. 365, 159–166 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01067013
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01067013