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Updated: Aug 23, 2026
Efficient Derivation of Human Cardiac Precursors and Cardiomyocytes from Pluripotent Human Embryonic Stem Cells with Small Molecule Induction
Published on: November 3, 2011
Developmental changes of Ni(2+) sensitivity and automaticity in Nkx2.5-positive cardiac precursor cells from murine
Kasumi Manabe1, Junichiro Miake, Norihito Sasaki
1Department of Genetic Medicine and Regenerative Therapeutics, Institute of Regenerative Medicine and Biofunction, Tottori University Graduate School of Medical Science, Tottori, Japan.
Background:
It is controversial which subtypes of T type Ca(2+) channels are implicated in automaticity of cardiac cells during the embryonic period.
Method And Results:
The effect of Ni(2+) on the automaticity of Nkx2.5-positive cardiac precursor cells sorted from embryonic stem cells during their differentiation was examined using patch clamp techniques. Although 40 micromol/L Ni(2+), which is enough to block Ni(2+)sensitive T type-Ca(2+) channels, decreased the spontaneous beating rate in all cells in the early and intermediate stage, Ni(2+) did not show any effects on the automaticity of 50% of the cells in the late stage.
Conclusion:
These results indicate that Ni(2+)-sensitive T-type Ca(2+) channels expressed in the Nkx2.5-positive cardiac precursor cells are developmentally regulated.
