Characteristics of oxalate supported calcium uptake and release from the SR of permeabilised rabbit ventricular myocytes

Abstract

This thesis investigated the characteristics of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium uptake and release from permeabilised cardiac myocytes: focusing on adenosine trisphosphate calcium pump (Ca+2 -ATPase pump), the ryanodine receptor (RyR) and the non-specific SR leak. In order to do this, the following aims were investigated. 1. Cell viability: do balled-up cells contribute to total cell protein? 2. Is the rate of calcium uptake and leak affected by SR calcium load, RuR and by varying the oxalate concentration? 3. How sensitive is this preparation to stimulatory and inhibitory concentrations of ryanodine? 4. To what extent is the caffeine-mediated calcium leak blocked by ryanodine and ruthenium red (RuR)? 5. What are the characteristics of the RuR/ryanodine insensitive SR leak? (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.)