title: Signal transduction in the cardiac k-receptor.
abstract: The presence of k-binding sites in the heart suggests a regulatory role of k-receptor in the cardiac functions. Recent studies have provided evidence that activation of cardiac k-receptor elevates intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) by increasing mobilization of calcium from the intracellular store. The mobilization of intracellular calcium results from an increased production of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3). The increase in [Ca2+]i may manifest in cardiac arrhythmias while the depletion of calcium from the intracellular store may reduce the contractility elicited upon depolarization. The responses of IP3/[Ca2+]i are significantly attenuated after development of tolerance to k-opioids due mainly to the impairment of postreceptor events. The attenuated responses of IP3/[Ca2+]i to k-receptor activation may be responsible for the failure of the k-agonists to induce cardiac arrhythmias and to reduce electrically induced calcium transients in the ventricular myocytes.
authors: Department of Physiology, University of Hong Kong.
authors: T M
authors: TM
authors: Wong
authors: J Z
authors: JZ
authors: Sheng
authors: N S
authors: NS
authors: Wong
authors: K K
authors: KK
authors: Tai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate; D002118:Calcium