Conduction velocity and intracellular action potentials of the tunicate heart. 1967

M E Kriebel

The tubular heart of tunicates is composed of a single layer of myoendothelial cells. The direction of contraction reverses every few minutes. The conduction times in both directions are the same. Conduction velocity was greatest in the middle of the arms of the V-shaped heart and slowest in the apex. The greater the heart length, the greater was the conduction velocity. The Q(10) of conduction velocity was 2-2.3. Removal of the raphe which attaches the heart to the pericardium and removal of a line of undifferentiated cells opposite the raphe did not change the conduction velocity or prevent the heart from reversing the direction of conduction. The median resting potential of 42 cells was -71 mv and the median action potential was 75 mv. At 20 degrees C the duration of the action potential was 1.2 sec and the maximal rate of depolarization was 3-10 v/sec. An increase in the beat frequency produced by electrically stimulating the heart decreased the resting potential, rate of rise, the duration, and the overshoot of the action potential. The shape of the action potential was sometimes different in the two directions of conduction. The electrophysiological evidence indicates only one cell type and suggests that the mode of the spread of excitation is by local current flow from cell to cell.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009119 Muscle Contraction A process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in muscle tissue. Muscle contraction occurs by a sliding filament mechanism whereby actin filaments slide inward among the myosin filaments. Inotropism,Muscular Contraction,Contraction, Muscle,Contraction, Muscular,Contractions, Muscle,Contractions, Muscular,Inotropisms,Muscle Contractions,Muscular Contractions
D010825 Physics The study of those aspects of energy and matter in terms of elementary principles and laws. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed) Physic
D002816 Chordata, Nonvertebrate A portion of the animal phylum Chordata comprised of the subphyla CEPHALOCHORDATA; UROCHORDATA, and HYPEROTRETI, but not including the Vertebrata (VERTEBRATES). It includes nonvertebrate animals having a NOTOCHORD during some developmental stage. Invertebrate Chordate,Chordatas, Nonvertebrate,Chordate, Invertebrate,Chordates, Invertebrate,Invertebrate Chordates,Nonvertebrate Chordata,Nonvertebrate Chordatas
D004558 Electric Stimulation Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses. Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D006329 Heart Conduction System An impulse-conducting system composed of modified cardiac muscle, having the power of spontaneous rhythmicity and conduction more highly developed than the rest of the heart. Conduction System, Heart,Conduction Systems, Heart,Heart Conduction Systems,System, Heart Conduction,Systems, Heart Conduction
D000200 Action Potentials Abrupt changes in the membrane potential that sweep along the CELL MEMBRANE of excitable cells in response to excitation stimuli. Spike Potentials,Nerve Impulses,Action Potential,Impulse, Nerve,Impulses, Nerve,Nerve Impulse,Potential, Action,Potential, Spike,Potentials, Action,Potentials, Spike,Spike Potential
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D055585 Physical Phenomena The entities of matter and energy, and the processes, principles, properties, and relationships describing their nature and interactions. Physical Concepts,Physical Processes,Physical Phenomenon,Physical Process,Concept, Physical,Concepts, Physical,Phenomena, Physical,Phenomenon, Physical,Physical Concept,Process, Physical,Processes, Physical

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