Cardiovascular research
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Cardiovascular research · Nov 2000
Localisation and functional significance of ryanodine receptors during beta-adrenoceptor stimulation in the guinea-pig sino-atrial node.
Recent evidence shows that calcium released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) plays an important role in the regulation of heart rate. The aim of this study was to investigate the subcellular distribution of ryanodine receptors in the guinea-pig sino-atrial (SA) node and to determine their functional role in the regulation of pacemaker frequency in response to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation. ⋯ These findings are the first to show immunocytochemical evidence for the presence and organisation of ryanodine receptor calcium release channels in mammalian SA node cells. This study also provides evidence of a role for ryanodine sensitive sites in the beta-adrenergic modulation of heart rate in this species.