Does taurine suppress the spread of cell death in electrically coupled RPE cells?
Our results indicate that taurine can serve to suppress cell death in RPE cells independent of any effect on gap junctions. We have considered various avenues by which taurine can exert its protective effect, but the precise mechanism involved under these experimental conditions has yet to be identified.
The results indicate that alpha-SMA, calponin, and desmin are involved in the myofibrillar development in rat heart. The presence of spatiotemporal differences in the expression of these proteins reveals regional differences in the developmental timing of cardiomyocyte maturation. The maturation process extends from the compact myocardium in the IVS to the left and right ventricular free walls, whereas the atrioventricular junction, the ventricular trabeculae, and developing ventricular conduction system show a relatively slow maturation. Smooth-muscle proteins may contribute to the slow shortening speed that is characteristic of the embryonic myocardium.