Effects of cyclic-GMP on hyperpolarization-activated inward current (I(f)) in sino-atrial node cells of rabbit

The aim of present study is to investigate the effects of cGMP on hyperpolarization activated inward current (I(f)), pacemaker current of the heart, in rabbit sino-atrial node cells using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. When sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 80 μ M), which is known to activate guanylyl cyclase, was added, I(f) amplitude was increased and its activation was accelerated. However, when h was prestimulated by isopreterenol (ISO, 1 μ M), SNP reversed the effect of ISO. In the absence of ISO, SNP shifted activation curve rightward. On the contrary in the presence of ISO, SNP shifted activation curve in opposite direction. 8Br- cGMP(100 μ M), more potent PKG activator and worse PDE activator than cGMP, also increased basal I(f) but did not reverse stimulatory effect of ISO. It was probable that PKG activation seemed to be involved in SNP-induced basal I(f) increase. The fact that SNP inhibited ISO-stimulated I(f) suggested cGMP antagonize cAMP action via the activation of PDE. This possibility was supported by experiment using 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), non- specific PDE inhibitor. SNP did not affect h when h was stimulated by 20 μ M IBMX. Therefore, cGMP reversed the stimulatory effect of cAMP via cAMP breakdown by activating cGMP-stimulated PDE. These results suggest that PKG and PDE are involved in the modulation of h by cGMP: PKG may facilitate I(f) and cGMp-stimulated PDE can counteract the stimulatory action of cAMP.