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Aging Disrupts L-type Ca2+ Channel Organization and Function in Pacemaker Cells.

Oscar Vivas1,2, Matthias Baudot2, Roxanne Madden2

  • 1Department of Pharmacology (O.V., R.P.), University of Washington, Seattle.

Circulation Research
|June 19, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Aging slows heart rate by reducing L-type calcium channel function in pacemaker cells. This age-related decline in channel organization and density, linked to reduced caveolae, impairs heart rhythm and can be reversed by enhancing channel activity.

Keywords:
animalsheart ratemammalsmicroscopyprobability

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