AIMS : Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with intracellular Ca2+ build-up. In healthy ventricles, small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SK) channels are present but do not participate in repolarization. However, SK current is increased in chronic myocardial infarction and heart failure, and recently, SK channel inhibition was demonstrated to reduce arrhythmias in AMI rats. Hence, we hypothesized that SK channel inhibitors (NS8593 and AP14145) could reduce arrhythmia development during AMI in a porcine model.

METHODS AND RESULTS : Twenty-seven pigs were randomized 1:1:1 to control, NS8593, or AP14145. Haemodynamic and electrophysiological parameters [electrocardiogram (ECG) and monophasic action potentials (MAP)] were continuously recorded. A balloon was placed in the mid-left anterior descending artery, blinded to treatment. Infusion lasted from 10 min before occlusion until 30 min after. Occlusion was maintained for 1 h, followed by 2 h of reperfusion. Upon occlusion, cardiac output dropped similarly in all groups, while blood pressure remained stable. Heart rate decreased in the NS8593 and AP14145 groups. QRS duration increased upon occlusion in all groups but more prominently in AP14145-treated pigs. Inhibition of SK channels did not affect QT interval. Infarct MAP duration shortened comparably in all groups. Ventricular fibrillation developed in 4/9 control-, 4/9 AP14145-, and 2/9 NS8593-treated pigs. Ventricular tachycardia was rarely observed in either group, whereas ventricular extrasystoles occurred comparably in all groups.

CONCLUSION : Inhibition of SK channels was neither beneficial nor detrimental to ventricular arrhythmia development in the setting of AMI in this porcine model.