Chagas disease, which is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is an important cause of heart failure. We investigated modifications in the cellular electrophysiological and calcium-handling characteristics of an infected mouse heart during the chronic phase of the disease. The patch-clamp techn...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Danilo Roman-Campos, Policarpo Sales-Júnior, Hugo Leonardo Duarte, Eneas Ricardo Gomes, Silvia Guatimosim, Catherine Ropert, Ricardo Tostes Gazzinelli, Jader Santos Cruz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde 2013-04-01
Series:Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz.
Subjects:
Chagas disease
calcium current
action potential
potassium current
intracellular calcium
Trypanosoma cruzi
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762013000200243
Description
Summary:Chagas disease, which is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is an important cause of heart failure. We investigated modifications in the cellular electrophysiological and calcium-handling characteristics of an infected mouse heart during the chronic phase of the disease. The patch-clamp technique was used to record action potentials (APs) and L-type Ca2+ and transient outward K+ currents. [Ca2+]i changes were determined using confocal microscopy. Infected ventricular cells showed prolonged APs, reduced transient outward K+ and L-type Ca2+ currents and reduced Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Thus, the chronic phase of Chagas disease is characterised by cardiomyocyte dysfunction, which could lead to heart failure.
ISSN:0074-0276
1678-8060

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