Evidence of superior and inferior sinoatrial nodes in the mammalian heart [Rat]

We report the application of RNA sequencing technology for high-throughput profiling of regionally separated sinoatrial nodal tissues from rat hearts. We find that both the superior and inferior regions of these sinoatrial nodal tissues (termed sSAN and iSAN, respectively) possess statistically comparable levels of cardiac ion channels, receptors, neural proteins, and transcription factors. This study provides new insights into regional molecular expression of pacemaking tissue in the right atria.本研究报道了利用RNA测序（RNA sequencing）技术对大鼠心脏区域分离的窦房结（sinoatrial nodal）组织开展高通量转录组谱分析的应用。研究发现，此类窦房结组织的上、下区域（分别命名为sSAN与iSAN）中，心脏离子通道、受体、神经蛋白及转录因子的表达水平在统计学上无显著差异。本研究为右心房起搏组织的区域分子表达特征提供了新的研究视角。