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Sarcoplasmic reticulum and L‐type Ca 2+ channel activity regulate the beat‐to‐beat stability of calcium handling in human atrial myocytes
Author(s) -
Llach Anna,
Molina Cristina E.,
Fernandes Jacqueline,
Padró Josep,
Cinca Juan,
HoveMadsen Leif
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2010.197715
Subject(s) - beat (acoustics) , calcium , heart beat , medicine , myocyte , heart rate , heart cells , human heart , cardiology , chemistry , endocrinology , physics , blood pressure , acoustics
Non‐technical summary Cardiac arrhythmias occur when the heart is unable to beat rhythmically, and can be induced if the heart is forced to work in excess of its capacity. Here we examine how cells isolated from the atrial chamber of the human heart respond when their beating rate is increased. Our results show that there are differences in the ability of individual heart cells to respond rhythmically when they are forced to beat fast. Moreover, we find that mechanisms that regulate the level of calcium ions in the heart cells determine their ability to respond rhythmically. These results show that pharmacological control of calcium levels in heart cells might be useful in the treatment of people who suffer cardiac arrhythmias during excessive exercise.