Developmental and Physiological Correlates of Cardiac Muscle 1 [antikvár]

ForewordIt is quite appropriate to say, in introducing the contributions made at a Symposium sponsored by the United States-Japan Cooperative Science Program, that there always has been a very close relationship between those in Japan and the United States who have studied the heart cells and its physiological specializations. We have met together many times and we have studied in each others' laboratories. Such associations should be continued especially since they now embrace men of many other nations. The Symposium, from which this publication originates, was made possible by a United States-Japan program to foster cooperation. This does suggest that we remain aware of how common scientific interests introduce us to people of many lands and create a sense of oneness despite our diversities of origin and geographic separateness.There are no easily definable barriers among those who are called anatomists, physiologists, pharmacologists, biochemists, biophysicists, and physicians in the study of the heart. Studies of the basic properties of heart muscle cells, pacemaker cells, conducting system cells reveal processes common to other body tissues. Endocrinologists, who label themselves neuroscientists, often have something important to say about the heart. I trust that I am not moralizing excessively when I point out that barriers are not all-pervading as it sometimes seems.A number of years have passed since the first Symposium on the heart cell was held, sponsored by the United States-Japan Cooperative Science Program. Dr. Matsuda and I presided and certainly Dr. Sano played a major role. During this ten-year period our knowledge of the heart and heart cell functions has been significantly advanced. We knew quite a bit about heart cell membrane potentials, the spontaneous discharge of the pacemaker cell, and ionic fluxes particularly of sodium and potassium. Cardiac cells had been cultured and a good deal was known of the embryology of the heart. I believe that I am correct in saying, however, that the embryonic heart cell had been little studied. Our knowledge of the microstructures of the heart cell also has been greatly advanced since 1965. We know much more about the role of calcium and chloride ions, and excitation-contraction coupling.The titles of the papers included in this volume are adequate evidence of the rapid rate of progress. Some of the more senior participants witnessed the beginning of studies such as these. I believe they will all agree with me that papers presented at this Symposium in 1974 illustrate attainment of a