The Pacemaker Current: from Basics to the Clinics

Activation of the pacemaker ("funny," I(f)) current during diastole is the main process underlying generation of the diastolic depolarization and spontaneous activity of cardiac pacemaker cells. I(f) modulation by autonomic transmitters is responsible for the chronotropic regulation of heart rate. Given its role in pacemaking, I(f) has been a major target of investigation aimed to exploit its rate-controlling function in a clinical perspective. In this short review, we describe some of the most recent clinically relevant applications of the concept of I(f)-based pacemaking.