The effects of a1-adrenergic agonists on the waveforms of action potentials and voltage-gated ionic currents were examined in isolated adult rat ventricular myocytes by the whole-cell patch-clamp recording technique. After "puffer" applications of either of two a, agonists, phenylephrine and methoxamine, action-potential durations were increased. In voltage-clamped cells, phenylephrine (5-20 isM) or methoxamine (5-10 #M) reduced the amplitudes of Ca2"-independent voltage-activated outward K+ currents (Io); neither the kinetics nor the voltage-dependent properties of 'out were significantly affected. The effects of phenylephrine or methoxamine on 'out were larger and longer-lasting at higher concentrations and after prolonged or repeated exposures; in all experiments, however, lout recovered completely when puffer applications were discontinued. The suppression of IoUt is attributed to the activation of a1-adrenergic receptors, as neither P-nor r2-adrenergic agonists had measurable effects on IOt; in addition, the effect of phenylephrine was attenuated in the presence of the a antagonist phentolamine (10 ,uM), but not in the presence of the (3 antagonist propranolol (10 ,IM). Voltage-gated Ca2+ currents, in contrast, were not altered measurably by phenylephrine or methoxamine and no currents were activated directly by these agents. Suppression of Iot was also observed during puffer applications ofeither oftwo protein kinase C activators, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (10 nM-1 pM) and 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (60 ,uM). We conclude that the activation of a1-adrenergic receptors in adult rat ventricular myocytes leads to action-potential prolongation as a result of the specific suppression of 'out and that this effect may be mediated by activation of protein kinase C.Although it seems certain that the major effects of sympathomimetic agents on the mammalian heart are mediated by activation of 8-adrenergic receptors, the presence of aadrenergic receptors, which appear to be predominantly of the a, subtype (1, 2), has also been demonstrated in many preparations, including human atrial (3) and ventricular (4) muscle. In addition to variations among species (2), both the absolute and relative numbers of a,-and /3-adrenergic receptors are altered under some pathological conditions (5, 6). Although stimulation of a receptors results in actionpotential (AP) prolongation and inotropic responses similar (although not identical) to those seen on p-receptor activation (1, 2, 6), the mechanisms involved in mediating these effects are not well understood (1, 6). This contrasts markedly with 13-receptor stimulation, which results in increased cAMP, activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, and, presumably, protein phosphorylation (7); at the membrane level, p-receptor agonists increase the amplitude (7) of voltagegated inward Ca2" currents (Ica), by increasing the number and/or the opening probability of functional Ca2" channels (8,9). The effects of a, agonists are apparently not mediated by a similar mechanism, as...