Acute desensitization of acetylcholine and endothelin-1 activated inward rectifier K+ current in myocytes from the cardiac atrioventricular node

► ACh and ET-1 activate a K+ current in cardiac atrioventricular nodal cells. ► Tertiapin-Q sensitive IKACh activated via M2 receptors shows bi-exponential 'fade'. ► ET-1 activates a similar current that also fades. ► The fade reflects desensitization rather than altered K+ ion driving force. ► Acetylcholine is able to cross-desensitize the AVN cell response to endothelin-1.