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Updated: Mar 2, 2026

Isolation of Human Atrial Myocytes for Simultaneous Measurements of Ca2+ Transients and Membrane Currents
Published on: July 3, 2013
Altered Excitation-Contraction Coupling in Human Chronic Atrial Fibrillation
Eleonora Grandi1, Antony J Workman2, Sandeep V Pandit3
1Department of Pharmacology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
Abstract:
This review focuses on the (mal)adaptive processes in atrial excitation-contraction coupling occurring in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation. Cellular remodeling includes shortening of the atrial action potential duration and effective refractory period, depressed intracellular Ca2+ transient, and reduced myocyte contractility. Here we summarize the current knowledge of the ionic bases underlying these changes. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of excitation-contraction-coupling remodeling in the fibrillating human atria is important to identify new potential targets for AF therapy.
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