Effect of inhibitors of slow calcium current on rested state contraction of papillary muscles and post rest contractions of atrial muscle of the cat and rabbit hearts.

Effect of Ni, Co and Mn ions and of D-600 on rested state contractions (RSCs) of cat and rabbit papillary muscles and on post rest contractions (PRCs) of cat and rabbit atrial muscle was investigated. Ni and Co in concentration 2 mmol/l reduced the force of RSCs in papillary muscles by 78%, increased the dip between the phase 1 and 2 of respective action potentials (APs), lowered the level of plateau and decreased the total duration of AP. Strong PRCs in atrial muscle were reduced by Ni only by 25%, while the subsequent beats were strongly inhibited. Ni completely inhibited RSCs in papillary muscles increased by caffeine (10 mmol/1) or by reduction in Na concentration by 50%. Mn ions in concentration 1--2 mmol/l inhibited strongly both RSCs in papillary muscles and strong PRCs in atrial muscle, increased the dip between phase 1 and 2 and increased total duration of AP. Mn ions stimulated 45Ca efflux from papillary muscles and atrial strips. D-600 did not affect RSCs nor the shape of respective APs. It is concluded that RSCs in papillary muscles are directly activated by Ca inflow during the respective excitation while strong PRCs in atrial muscle are activated mostly by Ca released from intracellular stores.