title: Does Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum influence heart rate?
abstract: 1. The present review summarizes the evidence that Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is an important contributor to the systolic rise in [Ca2+]i (the Ca2+ transient) and influences the pacemaker firing rate. 2. We believe that the mechanism whereby [Ca2+]i influences firing rate is through the dependence of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger on [Ca2+]i. 3. Extrusion of Ca2+ by the electrogenic Na+-Ca2+ exchanger produces an inward current that contributes to the pacemaker currents. Confocal images of Ca2+ indicate the distribution of [Ca2+]i and Ca2+ sparks add to the evidence that Ca2+ release from SR is involved in pacemaker activity. 4. The normal pathway for increased heart rate is sympathetic activation; we discuss the evidence that part of the chronotropic effect of beta-adrenoceptor stimulation is through the modulation of SR Ca2+ release. 5. These studies show that Ca2+ handling by the pacemaker cells makes an important contribution to the regulation of pacemaker activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Institute for Biomedical Research, University of Sydney (F13), Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia. ju@physiol.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D000663:Amphibians; D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000502:physiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D012519:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism*; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger; D012964:Sodium; D002118:Calcium; D004837:Epinephrine