Sotalol is a potassium channel beta blocker used to treat ventricular arrhythmias and to help maintain normal sinus rhythm in atrial fibrillation and flutter. After being taken orally, it is absorbed into the blood through the GI tract and inhibits the beta 1 adrenergic receptor and the potassium voltage gated channel subfamily H member 2 protein on the cell membranes of cardiomyocytes. The beta 1 adrenergic receptor is responsible for Gs signalling and the production of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) which activates the L-type calcium channel. The L-type calcium channel is responsible for the influx of calcium from extracellular environment into the cytosol of cardiomyocytes which activates ryanodine receptors to release calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Calcium is important for the contraction of heart muscle for myosin to and actin to power-stroke so the slower influx of calcium slows down the contractions of the heart lowering the heart rate. The inhibition of potassium voltage gated channel subfamily H member 2 protein inhibits the efflux of potassium out of the cell during the repolarization phase of an action potential. This lengthens the QT interval of the heartbeat as well as prolonging the repolarization phase of action potentials. This regulates the heart rate and slows down any rapid heartrates.
References
Sotalol Mechanism of Action (New) References
IUPS Physiome Project. Modeling beta-adrenergic control of cardiac myocyte contractility in silico. IUPS Physiome Project. Retrieved from: https://models.physiomeproject.org/exposure/9766d9bd0325c31e47a31b291e26ccad/saucerman_brunton_michailova_mcculloch_2003.cellml/view.
Yancy CW, Laskar S, Eichhorn E: The use of beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists in the treatment of African Americans with heart failure. Congest Heart Fail. 2004 Jan-Feb;10(1):34-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1527-5299.2004.02024.x.
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