In humans, chronic atrial fibrillation decreases the transient outward current and ultrarapid component of the delayed rectifier current differentially on each atria and increases the slow component of the delayed rectifier current in both.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the voltage-dependent K(+) currents of human cells of the right and left atria and determine whether electrical remodeling produced by chronic atrial fibrillation (CAF) is chamber-specific.

BACKGROUND: Several data point to the existence of interatrial differences in the repolarizing currents. Therefore, it could be possible that CAF-induced electrical remodeling differentially affects voltage-dependent K(+) currents in each atrium.

METHODS: Currents were recorded using the whole-cell patch-clamp in myocytes from left (LAA) and right atrial appendages (RAA) obtained from sinus rhythm (SR) and CAF patients.

RESULTS: In SR, LAA and RAA myocytes were divided in 3 types, according to their main voltage-dependent repolarizing K(+) current. CAF differentially modified the proportion of these 3 types of cells on each atrium. CAF reduced the Ca(2+)-independent 4-aminopyridine-sensitive component of the transient outward current (I(to1)) more markedly in the LAA than in the RAA. Therefore, an atrial right-to-left I(to1) gradient was created by CAF. In contrast, the ultrarapid component of the delayed rectifier current (I(Kur)) was more markedly reduced in the RAA than in the LAA, thus abolishing the atrial right-to-left I(Kur) gradient observed in SR. Importantly, in both atria, CAF increased the slow component of the delayed rectifier current (I(Ks)).

CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that in SR there are intra-atrial heterogeneities in the repolarizing currents. CAF decreases I(to1) and I(Kur) differentially in each atrium and increases I(Ks) in both atria, an effect that further promotes re-entry.