Intracellular Redistribution of Dihydropyridine Receptor in the Rat Heart During the Progression of Sepsis

These data indicate that DHPRs in the rat heart were externalized from light vesicles to sarcolemma during the early hyperdynamic phase whereas they were internalized from surface membranes to intracellular sites during the late hypodynamic phase of sepsis. Furthermore, DHPRs were overexpressed during early sepsis while they were underexpressed during late sepsis. Alterations in the expression and intracellular redistribution of DHPRs may contribute to the development of the biphasic cardiodynamic states during the progression of sepsis.