ATP

Pacemaker Cell
1 2
3
cAMP
GDP
GTP
cAMP
cAMP
cAMP
4
5
6
7
8
Na
+
Sympathetic Regulation of Cardiac
Pacemaker Cells
Effect: ____?_____ heart rate

1. ______?______ sympathetic neurons (short) have cell bodies in the
_____?____of spinal cord grey matter between the _?_and _?_ vertebrae.
2. At the ___?____ ganglia, they release ______?______ onto ___?____ ACh
receptors (nAChR) on _______?_______ sympathetic neurons.
3. These neurons (long) release ________?________ onto cardiac
pacemaker cells.
4. NE binds to adrenergic ____?_____.
5. The ______?______ that associates with this GPCR has an alpha subunit
called _____?____. GDP is swapped for __?__. The subunit has no role.
6. The activated G
s
stimulates ____?______, causing ___?___ levels to rise.
7. ____ binds to ___?__. More occupied binding sites on HCN means an
increased probability of HCN ____?____.
8. Increased _____?____ causes the slope of the ____?_____ to become
_____?_____, meaning we get to threshold faster, meaning our heart rate
will ____?____.


Pacemaker Cell
1
2
3
GDP
GTP
4
5
7 Na
+
8 K
+
Parasympathetic Regulation of Cardiac
Pacemaker Cells
Effect: _____?______ heart rate

1. ________?______ parasympathetic neurons (long) have cell bodies
in the ____?_____, in the _______?__________.
2. In the wall of the heart, at the parasympathetic ____?_____ ganglion,
they release _______?______ onto nicotinic receptors (nAChR) on
________?______ parasympathetic neurons.
3. These neurons (short) release _____?_____ onto cardiac pacemaker cells.
4. ACh binds to ________?_______ GPCR.
5. The ______?______ that associates with this GPCR has an alpha subunit
called ________?________. __?__ is swapped for ___?___.
6. The activated G
i
____?____ adenylyl cyclase, causing no increase in
____?____.
7. Very little of it binds to ___?____ , which means a decreased probability
of HCN _____?_____. Low ______?______ causes the slope of the ramp
potential to become ____?_____, meaning we take longer to reach
threshold, meaning our heart rate _____?_____.
8. Additionally, the subunit can associate with inward rectifying K+
channels (GIRK), facilitating _____?_____ and driving the membrane
potential even further from threshold.


6
Answers
Spoiler Alert!
ATP
Pacemaker Cell
1 2
3
cAMP
GDP
GTP
cAMP
cAMP
cAMP
4
5
6
7
8
Na
+
Sympathetic Regulation of Cardiac
Pacemaker Cells
Effect: Increase heart rate

1. Preganglionic sympathetic neurons (short) have cell bodies in the lateral
horn of spinal cord grey matter between the T1 and L3 vertebrae.
2. At the sympathetic chain ganglia, they release acetylcholine (ACh) onto
nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChR) on postganglionic sympathetic neurons.
3. Postganglionic sympathetic neurons (long) release norepinephrine (NE)
onto cardiac pacemaker cells.
4. NE binds to adrenergic GPCR.
5. The GTP-binding protein that associates with this GPCR has an alpha
subunit called G
s
(s = stimulatory). GDP is swapped for GTP. The
subunit has no role.
6. The activated G
s
stimulates adenylyl cyclase, causing cAMP levels to rise.
7. cAMP binds to HCN. More occupied cAMP binding sites on HCN means an
increased probability of HCN opening.
8. Increased sodium influx causes the slope of the ramp potential to become
steeper, meaning we get to threshold faster, meaning our heart rate will
increase.


Pacemaker Cell
1
2
3
GDP
GTP
4
5
7 Na
+
8 K
+
Parasympathetic Regulation of Cardiac
Pacemaker Cells
Effect: Decrease heart rate

1. Preganglionic parasympathetic neurons (long) have cell bodies
in the brainstem, in the motor nucleus of CN X (vagus nerve).
2. In the wall of the heart, at the parasympathetic cardiac ganglion, they
release acetylcholine (ACh) onto nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChR) on
postganglionic parasympathetic neurons.
3. Postganglionic parasympathetic neurons (short) release ACh onto cardiac
pacemaker cells.
4. ACh binds to muscarinic GPCR.
5. The GTP-binding protein that associates with this GPCR has an alpha
subunit called G
i
(i = inhibitory). GDP is swapped for GTP.
6. The activated G
i
inhibits adenylyl cyclase, causing no increase in cAMP.
7. Very little cAMP binds to HCN. Fewer occupied cAMP binding sites on HCN
means a decreased probability of HCN opening. Low sodium permeability
causes the slope of the ramp potential to become less steep, meaning we
take longer to reach threshold, meaning our heart rate decreases.
8. Additionally, the subunit can associate with inward rectifying K+
channels (GIRK), facilitating K+ efflux and driving the membrane potential
even further from threshold.


6