Scientists discover that the glutamate transmitter system controls the electrical activity of the heart

Recently, the team of Academician Chen Yihan of Tongji University discovered that atrial cardiomyocytes and sinoatrial node pacemaker cells have an endogenous glutamate transmitter system, which is similar to the excitation and conduction mode of brain glutamatergic neurons in atrial cardiomyocytes.

The electrical activity of the heart drives the heart to contract.

To this end, Chen Yihan’s team found that glutamate vesicles are rich under the surface membrane of rat atrial cardiomyocytes; rat atrial cardiomyocytes have key elements of the glutamate transmitter system, such as glutamate metabolizing enzymes and ionomers.

"This research data reveals that there is an inherent glutamate transmitter system in atrial cardiomyocytes.

At the same time, in the study of the pacemaker cells of the sinus node, Chen Yihan's team found that the pacemaker cells are similar to glutamatergic neurons in the cerebral cortex.

Related paper information: org/10.