Skip Navigation

Cardiovascular Research 2000 47(4):658-687; doi:10.1016/S0008-6363(00)00135-8
© 2000 by European Society of Cardiology
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Boyett, M.R.
Right arrow Articles by Kodama, I.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Boyett, M.R.
Right arrow Articles by Kodama, I.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Copyright © 2000, European Society of Cardiology

The sinoatrial node, a heterogeneous pacemaker structure

M.R. Boyetta,*, H. Honjob and I. Kodamab

aSchool of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
bResearch Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +44-113-233-4298; fax: +44-113-233-4224 m.r.boyett{at}leeds.ac.uk

This article focuses on the regional heterogeneity of the mammalian sinoatrial (SA) node in terms of cell morphology, pacemaker activity, action potential configuration and conduction, densities of ionic currents (iNa, iCa,L, ito, iK,r, iK,s and if), expression of gap junction proteins (Cx40, Cx43 and Cx45), autonomic regulation, and ageing. Experimental studies on the single SA node cell to the whole animal are reviewed. The heterogeneity is considered in terms of the gradient model of the SA node, in which there is gradual change in the intrinsic properties of SA node cells from periphery to centre, and the alternative mosaic model, in which there is a variable mix of atrial and SA node cells from periphery to centre. The heterogeneity is important for the dependable functioning of the SA node as the pacemaker for the heart, because (i) via multiple mechanisms, it allows the SA node to drive the surrounding atrial muscle without being suppressed electrotonically; (ii) via an action potential duration gradient and a conduction block zone, it promotes antegrade propagation of excitation from the SA node to the right atrium and prevents reentry of excitation; and (iii) via pacemaker shift, it allows pacemaking to continue under diverse pathophysiological circumstances.

KEYWORDS Gap junctions; Ion channels; Sinus node


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Biophys. JHome page
Y. Kurata, H. Matsuda, I. Hisatome, and T. Shibamoto
Regional Difference in Dynamical Property of Sinoatrial Node Pacemaking: Role of Na+ Channel Current
Biophys. J., July 15, 2008; 95(2): 951 - 977.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Circ. Res.Home page
M. L. Bakker, B. J. Boukens, M. T.M. Mommersteeg, J. F. Brons, V. Wakker, A. F.M. Moorman, and V. M. Christoffels
Transcription Factor Tbx3 Is Required for the Specification of the Atrioventricular Conduction System
Circ. Res., June 6, 2008; 102(11): 1340 - 1349.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Physiol.Home page
K. Fukuzaki, T. Sato, T. Miki, S. Seino, and H. Nakaya
Role of sarcolemmal ATP-sensitive K+ channels in the regulation of sinoatrial node automaticity: an evaluation using Kir6.2-deficient mice
J. Physiol., June 1, 2008; 586(11): 2767 - 2778.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Physiol. GenomicsHome page
J. M. Lignon, Z. Bichler, B. Hivert, F. E. Gannier, P. Cosnay, J. A. del Rio, D. Migliore-Samour, and C. O. Malecot
Altered heart rate control in transgenic mice carrying the KCNJ6 gene of the human chromosome 21
Physiol Genomics, April 21, 2008; 33(2): 230 - 239.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Circ. Res.Home page
T. M. Vinogradova, S. Sirenko, A. E. Lyashkov, A. Younes, Y. Li, W. Zhu, D. Yang, A. M. Ruknudin, H. Spurgeon, and E. G. Lakatta
Constitutive Phosphodiesterase Activity Restricts Spontaneous Beating Rate of Cardiac Pacemaker Cells by Suppressing Local Ca2+ Releases
Circ. Res., April 11, 2008; 102(7): 761 - 769.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Circ Arrhythmia ElectrophysiolHome page
S. A. Jones, M. Yamamoto, J. O. Tellez, R. Billeter, M. R. Boyett, H. Honjo, and M. K. Lancaster
Distinguishing Properties of Cells From the Myocardial Sleeves of the Pulmonary Veins: A Comparison of Normal and Abnormal Pacemakers
Circ Arrhythmia Electrophysiol, April 1, 2008; 1(1): 39 - 48.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.