Premium
Structural and molecular determinants of intercellular coupling in cardiac myocytes
Author(s) -
Lee Kanter H.,
Beyer Eric C.,
Saffitz Jeffrey E.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.1070310505
Subject(s) - intracellular , myocyte , coupling (piping) , microbiology and biotechnology , biophysics , chemistry , biology , materials science , metallurgy
Electrical activation of the heart requires intercellular transfer of current through gap junctions connecting individual cardiac myocytes. Using a combination of light and electron microscopic techniques and molecular approaches, we have characterized the number, size, and spatial distribution of intercellular connections at gap junctions in cardiac myocytes and have also cloned, sequenced, and elucidated the subcellular distribution of three physiologically distinct gap junction channel proteins. In this review, we present evidence to suggest that the spatial distribution of myocyte interconnections and the molecular composition of gap junction channels may confer distinct conduction properties on specific tissues of the mammalian heart such as atrial and ventricular myocardium, and the nodes and bundles of the cardiac conduction system. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.