Enhanced calcium release at specialised surface sites compensates for reduced t-tubule density in neonatal sheep atrial myocytes

Cardiac myocytes rely on transverse (t)-tubules to facilitate a rapid rise in calcium throughout the cell. However, despite their importance in triggering synchronous Ca2+ release, t-tubules are highly labile structures. They develop postnatally, increase in density during exercise training and are lost in diseases such as heart failure (HF). In the majority of settings, an absence of t-tubules decreases function. Here we show that despite reduced t-tubule density due to immature t-tubules, the newborn atrium is highly specialised to maintain Ca2+ release.

Source: Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology - August 26, 2022 Category: Cytology Authors: Charlotte E.R. Smith, Christian Pinali, David A. Eisner, Andrew W. Trafford, Katharine M. Dibb Source Type: research