From my understanding of myocardial ischemic contractile failure, ischemia causes increased extracellular K+ concentration due to the ATP-sensitive K+ channels opening (as they need ATP to stay closed). It is evident during ischemia, that the lack of oxygen inhibits the ability of the myocardial cell to generate ATP.
So, if K+ is leaving the cell and going into the ECF, shouldn't the resting membrane potential of the cells become more negative instead of positive (a positive ion going into ECF makes the electrical gradient larger, thus more negative) ? However myocardial ischemic contractile failure supposedly causes the RMP to become less negative due to the lowering of the potassium equilibrium potential.
Can someone explain to me how and why the potassium equilibrium potential is lowered and the reason why the RMP is becoming less negative please?
Thanks!