A Reevaluation of the Critical Membrane Potential of the Effective Refractory Period in Guinea Pig Ventricular Fibres

The traditional critical membrane potential (CMP), -55—-60mV, which corresponds to effective refractory period (ERP), was anew investigated in guinea pig ventricular muscle fibres. The electrical and contractile responses to the stimulus during repolarization of action potential (AP), particularly from+10 to -60 mV, were observed. One third of 35 tested cells displayed testing action potential (TAP) and local response at≥-54 mV when they were stimulated by testing pulses in 37℃ normal Tyrode's solution. Potential level of TAP which occurred earliest was at -30 mV and that of local response which appeared earliest was at 0 mV during repolarization among 95 systematic tests. Most of the TAPs belonged to the slow response potential type. The ratio of TAP evoked at ≥-54 mV initial membrane potential (IMP) was as high as 86% when the experiment was carried out in 37℃ 1.5 mmol KC1/L Tyrode's solution. In view of distribution of IMPs of TAPs, the CMP of ERP in guinea pig ventricular muscle fibres was more

A Reevaluation of the Critical Membrane Potential of the Effective Refractory Period in Guinea Pig Ventricular Fibres