During my first sabbatical leave, I learned a technique called patch clamping, now a common methodology in my area of specialization - electrophysiology (the study of excitable tissues). I applied this technique to the study of Ca2+ currents in rat heart cells (Ca2+ is the ion that triggers cell contraction, and therefore the heartbeat). I am now continuing this work, applying a version of this technique to the study of changes in heart function associated with diabetes mellitus. Heart muscle cells (cardiomyocytes) from diabetic animals (and humans) exhibit prolonged action potentials - the electrical signals that trigger subsequent contraction. In animal models, longer APs occur early on in the disease process and significantly alter cardiomyocyte function. The ionic mechanisms that may contribute to these changes include enhanced Ca2+ currents and/or depressed transient outward K+ currents. I will be using a perforated patch clamp recording technique to assess changes in these currents in cardiomyocytes from diabetic animals.

 For more information. contact Dr. Mary Schwanke