Intracellular Ca2+ release sparks atrial pacemaker activity.
Electrical excitation of the mammalian heart originates from specialized pacemaker cells in the right atrium. Pacemaker activity depends on multiple ion channels and transport mechanisms that reside primarily within the plasma membrane. However, recent evidence indicates that intracellular Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum also contributes importantly to atrial pacemaker function.
Lipsius
S L
SL
Department of Physiology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois 60153, USA.
Hüser
J
J
Blatter
L A
LA
D000818:Animals; D016275:Atrial Function; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type / Q000502:physiology; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D006801:Humans; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D012519:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger / Q000502:physiology
D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type; D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger; D002118:Calcium