Effects of copper chloride on electromechanical activities of myocardial cells

The effects of copper chloride (CuCl2) on action potentials and contractile forces of guinea pig papillary muscles and cultured myocardial cells from neonatal rats were studied by means of an intracellular microelectrode and transducers. The results showed CuCl2 50 mumol/L reduced action potential amplitude (APA) and maximal depolarization rate of 0 phase (Vmax), shortened action potential duration at 50% (APD50) and at 90% (APD90) repolarization, prolonged effective refractory period (ERP), inhibited contractile force of guinea pig papillary muscles. The effect of CuCl2 on AP of cultured myocardial cells was similar to those of guinea pig papillary muscles. The beating rate and contractile amplitude of cultured myocardial cells were decreased by CuCl2 50 mumol/L from 102 +/- 44 bpm to 58 +/- 21 bpm and from 100% to 69 +/- 17% respectively. These suggest that CuCl2 may be an anti-arrhythmic element.