Excitation Contraction Coupling in Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle Flashcards
What is a triad?
A triad is the structure formed by a T tubule with a sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) known as the terminal cisterna on either side
What is the latency/lag period in skeletal muscle cells?
The time taken from the peak of the action potential/action potential being created and the very onset of contraction of muscle
What causes the latency/lag period skeletal muscle cells?
The time it takes for the action potential to be transported into the t-tubules to the sarcoplasmic reticulum
What is significant about the time difference between the action potential and contraction occurring?
Action potential is delivered before contraction occurs
What happens during an action potential to the skeletal muscle?
1) . ACh is released at the neuro-muscular junction
2) . This activates the ion channels that are on the motor end plate
3) . This causes a net influx of sodium which propagates a muscle action potential as you get a fast depolarisation
4) . The depolarisation travels deep into the t-tubules
5) . The dihydropyridine (DHP) receptors on the Sarcoplasmic reticulum sense voltage and change the conformational change of the channel
6) . This allows DHP to interact with the Ryanodine receptor and open the ryanodine receptor via mechanical coupling, releasing calcium from its stores to the terminal cisterne
7) . Calcium binds to contractile machinery and this causes contraction of the muscle.
What occurs event occurs in the middle of the latent period between action potential and contraction?
The release of calcium ions
What happens to calcium after it has caused a contraction?
Calcium is recycled between the sarcoplasmic reticulum/terminal cisternae and the cytoplasm
How can calcium create an even bigger response?
By activating other Ryanodine receptors and creating a more amplified response
What are the 2 main differences between skeletal and cardiac muscle calcium?
In skeletal muscle there is no requirement for extracellular calcium during the activation of contraction
In skeletal each t-tubule is sandwiched between 2 terminal cisternae
What are junctional foot proteins?
The proteins responsible for the calcium response
What are the 2 junctional foot proteins in skeletal muscle contraction?
Dihydropyridine receptor protein (DHPR) and Ryanodine receptor protein (RYR)
What is the role of Dihydropyridine receptor protein (DHPR)?
Voltage gated calcium channel in the t-tubule membrane
What is the role of Ryanodine receptor protein (RYR)?
Calcium release in the Sarcoplasmic reticulum
What kind of transport is used to take calcium from its store in the sarcoplasmic reticulum down into the muscle cells?
Opening the ryanodine receptors allows a high concentration of calcium ions to flow down into a low concentration of calcium ions in muscle cells - Diffusion
What does the key event of calcium release cause?
An increase in intracellular calcium concentration which leads to force generation through the interaction of actin and myosin filaments
What kind of drugs can block the dihyropyridine receptors and prevent calcium being released?
Dihydropyridines
E.g - Nifedipine