Characterization of Different Localized Ca2+ Signals in Skeletal Muscle Fibers

Abstract

Discrete localized Ca2+ signals (LCS) occur in many cell types. In skeletal muscle fibers they have been shown e.g. to be elicited as a result of an osmotic shock or mechanical skinning of isolated muscle fibers. Indicating their possible pathophysiological importance, spontaneous LCS have been observed in the mdx mouse model of human Duchenne muscular dystrophy and in wild type mouse muscle fibers after severe mechanical stress. In addition, there is a variety of different types of intricate subcellular Ca2+ signaling in micro-domains of mammalian skeletal muscle fibers.