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Mechanism of Calcium-induced Positive Chronotropic Effect in Isolated Mammalian Atria

Nature volume 198, page 792 (1963)Cite this article

Abstract

POSITIVE chronotropic effects induced by increased concentration of calcium ions have been reported by a number of authors in isolated1,2 and non-isolated3–5 mammalian hearts. Increased levels of calcium seem, therefore, to affect the pacemaker activity of the mammalian heart in a way opposite to that which one would infer from the ‘polarizing’6 and ‘stabilizing’7 influence of this ion on the membrane potential of isolated sino-atrial and Purkinje fibres, respectively. This communication presents some results which are consistent with the hypothesis that the in vitro activation of the atrial pacemaker induced by increased concentrations of calcium ions is adrenergic in nature.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Fisiologia umana, Università di Padova, Italy

    M. MIDRIO & L. SPERTI

Authors
  1. M. MIDRIO
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  2. L. SPERTI
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MIDRIO, M., SPERTI, L. Mechanism of Calcium-induced Positive Chronotropic Effect in Isolated Mammalian Atria. Nature 198, 792 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1038/198792a0

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