Biomaterial Database

Electrical aspects of excitation-contraction coupling. 1976

H A Fozzard, and W R Gibbons

Control of contraction in heart muscle is an interesting question partly because it is so complex. Contraction can vary by as much as an order of magnitude under the influence of drugs, or by different patterns of stimulation. Membrane depolarization is the initial determinant of contraction. It appears to be initiated by a membrane Ca current that causes graded release of Ca from a cellular store. This cellular store is quite labile; it is increased by entry of Ca by the transmembrane current and is decreased by a membrane Ca pump. Recovery of contraction requires recovery of the store into a releasable form and recovery of the membrane "trigger" current. A plausible scheme for contraction can be proposed without a direct role of membrane depolarization in Ca release, but a direct effect cannot yet be dismissed. Key future studies will require direct monitoring of the sarcoplasmic reticulum transmembrane potential and cytoplasmic Ca, and definition of the factors controlling the size of the Ca store.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008564	Membrane Potentials	The voltage differences across a membrane. For cellular membranes they are computed by subtracting the voltage measured outside the membrane from the voltage measured inside the membrane. They result from differences of inside versus outside concentration of potassium, sodium, chloride, and other ions across cells' or ORGANELLES membranes. For excitable cells, the resting membrane potentials range between -30 and -100 millivolts. Physical, chemical, or electrical stimuli can make a membrane potential more negative (hyperpolarization), or less negative (depolarization).	Resting Potentials,Transmembrane Potentials,Delta Psi,Resting Membrane Potential,Transmembrane Electrical Potential Difference,Transmembrane Potential Difference,Difference, Transmembrane Potential,Differences, Transmembrane Potential,Membrane Potential,Membrane Potential, Resting,Membrane Potentials, Resting,Potential Difference, Transmembrane,Potential Differences, Transmembrane,Potential, Membrane,Potential, Resting,Potential, Transmembrane,Potentials, Membrane,Potentials, Resting,Potentials, Transmembrane,Resting Membrane Potentials,Resting Potential,Transmembrane Potential,Transmembrane Potential Differences
D009200	Myocardial Contraction	Contractile activity of the MYOCARDIUM.	Heart Contractility,Inotropism, Cardiac,Cardiac Inotropism,Cardiac Inotropisms,Contractilities, Heart,Contractility, Heart,Contraction, Myocardial,Contractions, Myocardial,Heart Contractilities,Inotropisms, Cardiac,Myocardial Contractions
D002118	Calcium	A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes.	Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
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
D006321	Heart	The hollow, muscular organ that maintains the circulation of the blood.	Hearts
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
D001692	Biological Transport	The movement of materials (including biochemical substances and drugs) through a biological system at the cellular level. The transport can be across cell membranes and epithelial layers. It also can occur within intracellular compartments and extracellular compartments.	Transport, Biological,Biologic Transport,Transport, Biologic
D012519	Sarcoplasmic Reticulum	A network of tubules and sacs in the cytoplasm of SKELETAL MUSCLE FIBERS that assist with muscle contraction and relaxation by releasing and storing calcium ions.	Reticulum, Sarcoplasmic,Reticulums, Sarcoplasmic,Sarcoplasmic Reticulums