The electrophysiological effects of ionophore X-537A on cardiac Purkinje fibres

Summary Using classical microelectrode techniques in canine cardiac Purkinje fibres, calcium ionophore X-537A was shown to shorten the action potential, hyperpolarizing the membrane and lowering the plateau, suggesting that intracellular calcium controls membrane permeability to potassium in this preparation.This work was supported by grant No. HL 05726 from the U.S. Public Health Service, National Heart Institute, Bethesda, Md.I thank Dr.N. Krasnow for his valuable advice in carrying out this work.