Study of Cardiac Potassium Channels

Cardiac K+ channels determine the resting membrane protential,the heart rate,the shape and the duration of the action potential and are important targets for the actions of neurotransmitters,hormones,drugs and toxins known to modulate cardiac function.There are many types of cardiac potassium channels,which are different in molecular structure,electric conductance,gated dynamics,ion dynamics,specific agonists and blockers.Different cardiac potassium channels play different roles in the action potential duration.This article was concentrated on the study of cardiac potassium channels in recent years.