2.2.2 Muscle contraction

Depolarisation and subsequent muscle contraction of the heart is initiated, as in other muscle types, by generating an electrical impulse. In the heart this is generated by the pacemaker cells, whereas in skeletal muscles this depolarisation is generated at the neuromuscular junction. Interestingly, the depolarisation of the heart takes around 200 milliseconds which is significantly longer than the 2 millisecond depolarization of the skeletal muscles.

The depolarisation of pacemaker cells initiates the depolarisation of adjacent muscle cells. During the depolarisation, Na⁺ channels open and the membrane potential rises from -90mV (millivolts) to +30mV. Depolarization spreads along the T-tubules to the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Consequently Ca²⁺ (calcium ions) are released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and become available for actin filaments. So far, the regulation of muscle cell contraction is close to identical to contraction of skeletal muscles.

Simultaneously with the opening of Na⁺ channels in heart muscle, slow Ca²⁺ channels allow Ca²⁺ from the extracellular space to slowly diffuse into the muscle cells. This Ca²⁺ triggers further release of Ca²⁺ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. In skeletal muscle cells Na⁺ channels close instantly after depolarisation. But in cardiac muscle cells depolarisation continues after Na⁺ channels have closed. This is because Ca2+ slowly and continuously diffuses into the cells (due to the presence of slow Ca²⁺ channels). The sustained diffusion of Ca²⁺ into the muscle cell creates a plateau in the action potential, and as long as Ca²⁺ diffuses in, the depolarisation and subsequent contraction persists. Simultaneously as Ca²⁺ diffuses into the cells, there is only minimal diffusion of K⁺ (potassium) out of the muscle cell. The sum of these two processes of Ca²⁺ and K⁺, explain the sustained depolarisation of the heart muscle – the plateau. When calcium channels close and potassium channels finally open, the cardiac cells repolarise.

Note from Figure 11 that the power of the muscle cells increases during the plateau. This is explained by the persistent depolarisation and increased amount of Ca²⁺ in the cardiac cells. The myofibrils (actin and myosin) have time and enough Ca²⁺ to form many bonds giving more power.

The muscle contraction where myosin slides on actin is identical to skeletal muscle physiology. The following is therefore a brief review of this process:

As long as calcium is not available to actin filaments in myofibrils the heads of myosin cannot bind actin. However, when Ca²⁺ is released by depolarisation, it binds actin filaments in such a manner that the myosin head’s point of attachment on actin filaments becomes available. Thus myosin attaches to actin.

Prior to the binding of actin, the myosin head has bound the energy molecule ATP and cleaved it into ADP and a phosphate group, an ATP has been metabolized. Both ADP and the phosphate group are still attached to myosin whilst attaching to actin. When myosin binds actin, the phosphate group is released. This causes a change in the myosin’s three-dimensional structure causing the head to bend, and the actin filaments move in a longitudinal direction. Then ADP is released. Once this is done, a new ATP will bind the myosin molecule, releasing its connection to actin. ATP is cleaved to ADP and a phosphate group and the myosin head achieves its original three- dimensional structure. Restarting the cycle where myosin can bind actin in the presence of calcium.