TRPV4 contributes to stretch-induced hypercontractility and time-dependent dysfunction in the aged heart

Abstract

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Aims: Cardiovascular disease remains the greatest cause of mortality in Americans over 65. The stretch-activated Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid-4 (TRPV4) ion channel is expressed in cardiomyocytes of the aged heart. This investigation tests the hypothesis that TRPV4 alters calcium handling and cardiac function in response to increased ventricular preload and cardiomyocyte stretch.