Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 21, 2025

Primary Culture of Adult Rat Heart Myocytes
Published on: June 16, 2009
Tissue-specific adrenergic regulation of the L-type Ca2+ channel CaV1.2
Kwun Nok Mimi Man1, Peter Bartels1, Mary C Horne2
1Department of Pharmacology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Abstract:
Ca2+ influx through the L-type Ca2+ channel Cav1.2 triggers each heartbeat. The fight-or-flight response induces the release of the stress response hormone norepinephrine to stimulate β-adrenergic receptors, cAMP production, and protein kinase A activity to augment Ca2+ influx through Cav1.2 and, consequently, cardiomyocyte contractility. Emerging evidence shows that Cav1.2 is regulated by different mechanisms in cardiomyocytes compared to neurons and vascular smooth muscle cells.
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