Variability in frequency and characteristics of Ca2+ sparks at different release sites in rat ventricular myocytes

The Journal of Physiology
I Parker, W G Wier

Abstract

1. High spatial resolution confocal imaging was used to investigate spontaneous calcium release events (Ca2+ sparks) in isolated rat cardiac myocytes loaded with the fluorescent calcium indicator fluo-3. 2. Frequencies of sparks at different release sites varied widely, with a few sites showing sustained activities as great as 50 times the average. Sites with frequent sparks showed more rapid recovery of activity following Ca2+ waves and locally elevated basal [Ca2+]. 3. In addition to transient sparks, some sites showed bursts of rapid flurries of spark-like events, or apparently sustained Ca2+ liberation. Bursts remained localized to individual z-lines, but adjacent sites on the same z-line could be 'driven' by a bursting site to generate similar activity. 4. Individual sites showed long-term (tens of seconds) changes in 'modes' of activity, with abrupt transitions in frequencies of sparking, and between transient sparks and sustained bursts. These transitions were not associated with changes in the amplitude of the sparks. 5. We conclude that spontaneous sparks are not stereotyped events generated with uniform probability at all sites. Instead, the Ca2+ release event in variable, and some sites have a high probability of spa...Continue Reading

References

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Citations

Oct 11, 2008·Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Medical Sciences = Hua Zhong Ke Ji Da Xue Xue Bao. Yi Xue Ying De Wen Ban = Huazhong Keji Daxue Xuebao. Yixue Yingdewen Ban·Yan LiuLiang Liu
Mar 3, 1999·The Journal of General Physiology·N ShirokovaH Cheng
Jul 8, 2000·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·A LacampagneM F Schneider
May 16, 2000·The Journal of Physiology·C W WardP D Allen
Feb 8, 2011·Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta·Martin D BootmanH Llewelyn Roderick
Feb 13, 2001·Biophysical Journal·L T IzuW G Wier
Oct 17, 2008·Physiological Reviews·Heping Cheng, W J Lederer
Jun 19, 2001·American Journal of Physiology. Heart and Circulatory Physiology·H SauerM Wartenberg
Aug 14, 1999·Japanese Journal of Pharmacology·Y ImaizumiM Watanabe
Aug 30, 2005·Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology·Michael G Klein, Martin F Schneider
Sep 22, 2006·Journal of Cell Science·Martin D BootmanH Llewelyn Roderick
Mar 21, 2007·Biophysical Journal·Mark-Anthony BrayKevin Kit Parker

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