Fig. 1. Original current traces demonstrating the inhibitory effect of  S (−)-ropivacaine (83 μm,  A ) on Kv4.3/KChIP2.2 channels. Note the drug-induced crossing of currents under drug condition with control and washout currents. Hill functions (  B and  table 1,) describing inhibition of the maximal current (I^max), of the charge crossing the membrane during the entire duration of the test pulse (Q), and of the charge crossing the membrane through the channels until the crossing of currents (Q^cross). Because the crossing phenomenon was not observed at concentrations above 250 μm, the concentration–response curve was calculated by including inhibition of Q at concentrations of 830 μm and 2,500 μm into the analysis. Normalized currents demonstrating the acceleration of macroscopic current decline by  S (−)-ropivacaine (  C ). Concentration-dependent inhibition of τ¹was described by a Hill function (  D and  table 1 ). For this purpose, the concentration-dependent decrease of τ¹was expressed as τ^norm= 1 − (τ^drug/(τ^control−τ^out)). Shown are mean values ± SD.