Comparison of the T-tubule system in adult rat ventricular and atrial myocytes, and its role in excitation–contraction coupling and inotropic stimulation

I Smyrnias, W Mair, D Harzheim, SA Walker… - Cell calcium, 2010 - Elsevier
Narrow, tubular, inward projections of the sarcolemma ('T-tubules') are an established
feature of adult mammalian ventricular myocytes that enables them to generate the whole-
cell Ca2+ transients and produce coordinated contraction. Loss of T-tubules can occur
during ageing and under pathological conditions, leading to altered cardiac excitation–
contraction coupling. In contrast to adult ventricular cells, atrial myocytes do not generally
express an extensive T-tubule system at any stage of development, and therefore rely on …