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Updated: Jul 28, 2026

Primary Culture of Adult Rat Heart Myocytes
Published on: June 16, 2009
Two roles for caveolae in the cardiac myocyte?
C M Steinmann1, N Lourens, P J Du Toit
1Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria.
Abstract:
The presence of caveolae in many cell types including heart myocytes is well established. It is hypothesized that caveolae may play a role in the storing of excess Ca2+ and may be instrumental in Ca2+ transients during contraction and relaxation in pathological conditions. Furthermore, the presence of substances in caveolae and in their membranes may imply a role in the importing and exporting of key molecules under physiological and pathological conditions. Secretory activity is also suggested by an electron micrograph of rat heart muscle.
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