title: Characterization and regulation of T-type Ca2+ channels in embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.
abstract: T-type Ca2+ channels may play a role in cardiac development. We studied the developmental regulation of the T-type currents (ICa,T) in cardiomyocytes (CMs) derived from mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). ICa,T was studied in isolated CMs by whole cell patch clamp. Subsequently, CMs were identified by the myosin light chain 2v-driven green fluorescent protein expression, and laser capture microdissection was used to isolate total RNA from groups of cells at various developmental time points. ICa,T showed characteristics of Cav3.1, such as resistance to Ni2+ block, and a transient increase during development, correlating with measures of spontaneous electrical activity. Real-time RT-PCR showed that Cav3.1 mRNA abundance correlated (r2 = 0.81) with ICa,T. The mRNA copy number was low at 7+4 days (2 copies/cell), increased significantly by 7+10 days (27/cell; P < 0.01), peaked at 7+16 days (174/cell), and declined significantly at 7+27 days (25/cell). These data suggest that ICa,T is developmentally regulated at the level of mRNA abundance and that this regulation parallels measures of pacemaker activity, suggesting that ICa,T might play a role in the spontaneous contractions during CM development.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA 30033, USA.
authors.forename: Ying Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lijuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: Criss
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hartzell
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Narlow
authors.forename: Leanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cribbs
authors.forename: Samuel C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Dudley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000502:physiology; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009532:Nickel / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D009532:Nickel