title: [Mechanisms of excitation-contraction coupling and calcium liberation in striated muscles of vertebrates].
abstract: In vertebrate skeletal muscle, the main part of excitation-contraction coupling occurs at the level of the triad, where membranes of T-system and of junctional SR are facing each other. From place to place, the junctional gap is bridged by "feet" structures which include the SR Ca2+ channel. Half of them are closely apposed to tubular intramembranous structures assumed to be DHP-sensitive voltage-sensors which are similar to tubular Ca2+ channels and act by controlling Ca2+ release from SR. During a twitch, the release of Ca2+ activator from SR is controlled both by voltage-sensors via the feet structures and by a tubular Na+ current via a Na+-induced Ca2+ release mechanism. During long-duration mechanical responses, additional mechanisms are involved: a Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release which can be activated by ICa; the release of Ca2+ from membrane, controlled by the operation of a Na+/Ca2+ exchanger and/or new arrangements of surface membrane charges. An IP3-mediated Ca2+ release could be involved too. All these mechanisms can be regulated by intracellular biochemical or ionic processes.
authors: Laboratoire de Physiologie Générale, U.R.A. CNRS 290, Université de Poitiers.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Raymond
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium
vernacular_title: Les mécanismes de couplage entre excitation et libération de calcium du muscle squelettique des vertébrés.