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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Probing the Roles of Physical Forces in Early Chick Embryonic Morphogenesis
Published on: June 5, 2018
[Contraction-relaxation dynamics and mechanical restitution in the developing myocardium of the chick embryo]
P B Tsyv'ian1, V S Markhasin, O E Solov'eva
1Institute of Ecology and Genetics of Microorganisms, Ural Branch, Russian Acad. Sci., 620016 Ekaterinburg, Sladskoy Proezd, 6, Russia.
Insights
Cardiac muscle contraction and relaxation differ between embryonic and posthatched chicks. A sarcolemmal calcium pool and Na-Ca exchange regulate these processes, impacting mechanical restitution.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Developmental Biology
- Cellular Electrophysiology
Context:
- Investigating the developmental changes in cardiac muscle function.
- Understanding the role of calcium handling in myocardial contractility.
- Examining mechanical restitution and its regulation.
Purpose:
- To compare contraction-relaxation parameters and mechanical restitution in embryonic and posthatched chick ventricular preparations.
- To elucidate the influence of ryanodine and low sodium on these parameters.
- To determine the contribution of a sarcolemmal calcium pool and Na-Ca exchange.
Summary:
- Ryanodine affected relaxation rates differently in embryonic versus posthatched chicks, suppressing potentiation and mechanical restitution in both.
- Low sodium superfusion impaired relaxation and reduced rest potentiation across all developmental stages.
- These findings support the presence of a sarcolemmal calcium pool regulating twitch dynamics and calcium efflux via Na-Ca exchange.
Impact:
- Provides insights into the developmental maturation of cardiac excitation-contraction coupling.
- Highlights the distinct roles of intracellular and sarcolemmal calcium pools during development.
- Offers a foundation for understanding age-related alterations in cardiac contractility and calcium handling.
Abstract:
Parameters of the contraction-relaxation cycle and mechanical restitution (MR) were assessed in isolated ventricular preparations of 3- and 4-day chick embryos (EM) and posthatched (PH) chicks. Ryanodine reduced the relaxation rate in the EM but increased it in the PH chicks. It also suppressed a rest-induced potentiation and the MR in all the preparations. Low Na superfusion significantly suppressed the relaxation and decreased the rest potentiation in the myocardial preparations all ages. The findings substantiate existence of a sarcolemmal Ca pool which participates in regulation of twitch parameters and Ca outflux via the Na-Ca exchange.
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