Recovery of the slow action potential is hastened by the calcium slow channel agonist, Bay-K-8644.

Effects of the positive inotropic drug, Bay-K-8644, were studied on the slow action potential (AP) parameters and diastolic recovery of Vmax in K+ (22 mM)-depolarized rabbit papillary muscles. Bay-K-8644 (10(-6) M) increased the amplitude, maximum rate of rise (Vmax) and duration of the slow APs. Diastolic recovery of Vmax, examined by a paired-pulse protocol, was approximated by a single exponential function, both in control and in drug-treated muscles. The time constant of the recovery for drug-treated preparations was 171 +/- 20 ms (n = 9), and was significantly smaller than that for control: 414 +/- 45 ms (n = 12) (P less than 0.001). The diastolic intervals which allow 90% recovery of Vmax (T90%) were: 752 +/- 106 ms (n = 12) for control and 364 +/- 53 ms (n = 9) in the presence of drug, the latter being significantly shorter (P less than 0.01). The extent of the reductions in Vmax, at driving frequencies higher than 0.5 Hz, was minimal in the presence of the drug compared to the control. It was concluded that Bay-K-8644 not only enhanced the slow inward current, but also accelerated the reactivation process of the slow inward current and Ca2+ slow channel.