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Pannexin 1 Channel Inhibition To Prevent Triggered Arrhythmia, Grace Elizabeth Salzer

All ETDs from UAB

The mechanism of triggered arrhythmia generation involves inappropriate diastolic calcium (Ca2+) releases from the sarcoplasmic reticulum that promote membrane depolarization when the released Ca2+ is transported out of the cardiomyocyte via the sodium Ca2+ exchanger (NCX). If membrane depolarization is large enough, these events can trigger an ectopic action potential. However, it is not fully understood what physiological factors facilitate triggered events at the tissue level. Pannexin 1 (Px1), a large transmembrane conductance channel, can be activated by various stimuli including increases in intracellular Ca2+. We predict that during diastolic Ca2+ releases, Px1 becomes activated and together with the NCX, …