| Toad Heart Physiology Tom McKean |
 |
| Physiology Section |
| Toad Heart Physiology Tom McKean |
|
| Physiology Section |
| Hypoxia - | |
| Oxygen ATP Oxygen ATP Oxygen ATP |
Hypoxia or low oxygen is injurious to heart cells. Hypoxia is a
component of ischemia or lack of blood flow. When a coronary artery is blocked (heart
attack) in humans there is, by definition, ischemia. The buffer perfused toad heart is a
good preparation to study the effects of hypoxia and ischemia on the heart. Oxygen is necessary for the production of ATP by the mitochondria that are present in heart cells. This ATP is used for cross bridge cycling, to operate ion pumps (the Na pump and various calcium pumps) and housekeeping functions. ATP may be produced in the absence of oxygen by anaerobic glycolysis, but the quantities are limited compared with aerobic ATP production. |
| Previous Next | |