AUTONOMIC NEURONS AND CARDIAC MUSCLE

建议对钾通道基因表达的调控进行研究 在两种有助于心血管功能的细胞类型中，交感神经 节后神经元和心肌细胞。在外周交感神经 神经系统，椎旁神经节神经元有不同的放电 与椎前神经节的特性进行比较，这是由于 电压激活钾的差异表达在很大程度上 频道。具体目标1和3旨在比较 钾通道基因在交感神经元中的表达 神经节的分类以找出哪些基因有差异表达 因此可能有助于区分 电生理表型。具体目标2和3将进行比较 钾通道在心房和心室肌中的表达。这很好 确定了动作电位的形状和持续时间明显 在心房肌和心室肌细胞中不同，其中大部分 分化似乎是由于不同的表达 电压门控钾通道。我们会确定哪种钾 通道基因在心房肌和心室肌的差异表达 肌肉。这些研究将为理解 钾通道在电生理中的作用 成体组织的分化，可能有助于制定策略 寻找新的具有潜在治疗价值的钾通道拮抗剂 作为三类抗心律失常药。

It is proposed to study the regulation of potassium channel gene expression in two cell types that contribute to cardiovascular function, sympathetic postganglionic neurons and cardiac myocytes. In the peripheral sympathetic nervous system, neurons in paravertebral ganglia have different firing properties compared with those in prevertebral ganglia and this is due in large part to differential expression of voltage-activated potassium channels. Specific Aims 1 and 3 are directed toward comparing the expression of potassium channel genes in sympathetic neurons in these two classes of ganglia to find which genes are differentially expressed and could therefore contribute to the differentiation of the electrophysiological phenotype. Specific Aims 2 and 3 will compare potassium channel expression in atrial and ventricular muscle. It is well established that the shape and duration of action potentials are markedly different in atrial and ventricular muscle cells, and much of this differentiation appears to be due to differential expression of voltage-gated potassium channels. We will determine which potassium channel genes are differentially expressed in atrial and ventricular muscle. These studies will provide a molecular framework for understanding how potassium channels contribute to the electrophysiological differentiation of adult tissues and could help develop strategies for finding new potassium channel antagonists with potential therapeutic value as class III anti-arrhythmics.