title: How does the heart sense changes in oxygen tension: a role for ion channels?
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Oxygen plays a key role in cellular metabolism and function. Oxygen delivery to cells is crucial, and a lack of oxygen such as that which occurs during myocardial infarction can be lethal. Cells should, therefore, be able to respond to changes in oxygen tension.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Since the first studies examining the acute cellular effect of hypoxia on activation of transmitter release from glomus or type I chemoreceptor cells, it is now known that virtually all cells are able to respond to changes in oxygen tension.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite advances made in characterizing hypoxic responses, the identity of the "oxygen sensor" remains debated. Recently, more evidence has evolved as to how cardiac myocytes sense acute changes in oxygen. This review will examine the available evidence in support of acute oxygen-sensing mechanisms providing a brief historical perspective and then more detailed insights into the heart and the role of cardiac ion channels in hypoxic responses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A further understanding of these cellular processes should result in interventions that assist in preventing the deleterious effects of acute changes in oxygen tension such as alterations in contractile function and cardiac arrhythmia.
authors.affiliation: School of Anatomy, Physiology, and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia , Crawley, Australia .
authors.forename: Livia C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hool
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015687:Cell Hypoxia; D006420:Hemeproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009249:NADP / Q000378:metabolism; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006420:Hemeproteins; D007473:Ion Channels; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D009249:NADP; D010100:Oxygen