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Related Concept Videos

Gap Junctions01:37

Gap Junctions

Multicellular organisms employ a variety of ways for cells to communicate with each other. Gap junctions are specialized proteins that form pores between neighboring cells in animals, connecting the cytoplasm between the two, and allowing for the exchange of molecules and ions. They are found in a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate species, mediate numerous functions including cell differentiation and development, and are associated with numerous human diseases, including cardiac and...
Gap Junctions01:27

Gap Junctions

The cytoplasm of adjacent animal cells can exchange small molecules, ions, and secondary messengers via the communication channels which form the gap junctions. These junctions comprise a few hundred to thousands of molecular channels, each made of two halves, called the connexon hemichannel. A connexon is a hexamer of six transmembrane connexin proteins, which assemble radially, thus forming a pore or channel in the center. One connexon hemichannel docks with a corresponding connexon on the...
Conduction System of the Heart01:20

Conduction System of the Heart

The cardiac conduction system produces and transmits electrical impulses that prompt myocardial contraction, ensuring efficient heart function. This intricate system ensures that the heart beats in a coordinated and efficient manner, beginning with the atria and then the ventricles. The conduction system optimizes cardiac output by maintaining this precise sequence, which is crucial for adequate blood circulation.
This system relies on the unique properties of nodal and Purkinje cells:...
Conduction System of the Heart01:19

Conduction System of the Heart

Autorhythmicity is a term that refers to the heart's inherent ability to generate electrical signals and instigate muscle contractions. This self-regulating conduction system within the heart consists of two key components: the pacemaker cells and specialized conducting cells.
The pacemaker cells are located in two primary nodes: the sinoatrial (SA) node and the atrioventricular (AV) node. The SA node pacemaker cells can autonomously depolarize, triggering an action potential that leads to the...
Electrical Synapses01:28

Electrical Synapses

Electrical synapses found in all nervous systems play important and unique roles. In these synapses, the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes are very close together (3.5 nm) and are actually physically connected by channel proteins forming gap junctions.
Gap junctions allow the current to pass directly from one cell to the next. In contrast, in the chemical synapse, the neurotransmitters carry the information through the synaptic cleft from one neuron to the next. They consist of two...
Cardiac Action Potential01:30

Cardiac Action Potential

Cardiac action potentials are essential for proper heart function, enabling the rhythmic contractions needed for adequate blood circulation. Nodal cells and Purkinje fibers, specialized for electrical conduction, generate these action potentials.
The cardiac action potential process involves a series of phases characterized by the movement of ions across the cardiac cell membranes, leading to the depolarization and repolarization of the cardiac myocytes.
Ionic Basis of Cardiac Action Potentials

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Related Experiment Video

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Mechanical Stimulation-induced Calcium Wave Propagation in Cell Monolayers: The Example of Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells
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Cardiac connexins and impulse propagation.

John A Jansen1, Toon A B van Veen, Jacques M T de Bakker

  • 1Department of Medical Physiology, Division Heart and Lungs, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology
|September 5, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Cardiac impulse conduction relies on gap junctions, primarily connexins (Cx) 40, 43, and 45. This review explores their specific roles in different heart regions using genetically modified mouse models.

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Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular physiology
  • Molecular biology
  • Cell biology

Background:

  • Gap junctions facilitate cardiac impulse transmission throughout the heart.
  • Connexins (Cx) are the protein components of gap junctions.
  • Cx40, Cx43, and Cx45 are the main isoforms in myocardial cells, with regional expression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the distinct roles of connexin isoforms in cardiac conduction.
  • To correlate connexin expression with specific functions in different heart compartments.
  • To synthesize findings from genetically modified mouse studies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of literature on connexin function in the heart.
  • Analysis of studies using genetically modified mouse models.
  • Tracing the cardiac impulse pathway through different myocardial regions.

Main Results:

  • Connexins exhibit specific regional expression patterns within the heart.
  • Different connexin isoforms play crucial roles in distinct parts of the cardiac conduction system.
  • Genetically modified mice have elucidated connexin functions in vivo.

Conclusions:

  • Connexin isoforms are essential for coordinated cardiac electrical activity.
  • Understanding connexin roles is key to comprehending cardiac electrophysiology.
  • Targeting connexins may offer therapeutic potential for heart rhythm disorders.