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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Primary Culture of Adult Rat Heart Myocytes
Published on: June 16, 2009
Calcium channel modulation by beta-adrenergic neurotransmitters in the heart
1Department of Pharmacology, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Calcium ions play a crucial role in the regulation of the heart beat. During each action potential Ca2+ ions flow into the cell and are directly and indirectly involved in generation of pacemaker potentials and of contractile force. Adrenergic and cholinergic neurotransmitters modulate Ca2+ influx. The most detailed analysis has been made on the mechanism of the beta-adrenergic effect on calcium channels in cardiac cell membranes. This is briefly summarized in a personal account, while for more detailed information the reader is referred to more extensive recent reviews.
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