Abnormal Intracellular Modulation of Calcium as a Major Cause of Cardiac Contractile Dysfunction

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Abstract
THE release and reuptake of intracellular calcium are necessary to the normal systolic and diastolic function of the mammalian heart. The central part played by calcium ions in regulating excitation–contraction coupling and cycles of contraction and relaxation in the heart is diagrammed in Figure 1.1 , 2 There are two major calcium-dependent mechanisms that alter the contractile state of the heart: changing the availability of calcium to the myofilaments, and changing the responsiveness of the myofilaments to activation by intracellular calcium. The availability of intracellular calcium is regulated by the sarcolemma and sarcoplasmic reticulum, and calcium responsiveness is controlled by the myofilaments and . . .