Heart sarcolemma as a dynamic excitable membrane.

Sarcolemma consists of plasma and basement membranes and constitutes the real permeability barrier to the heart cell. It is considered to provide high electrical resistance and capacitance to heart cell and its properties are essentially similar to those of the other excitable membranes. Methods are now available for isolating heart sarcolemma with high specific activities of adenylate cyclase, (Na(+)-K(+) ATPase, Ca(++) ATPase, and Mg(++) APTase. These enzymes are considered to play an important role in heart function by regulating ion movements across sarcolemma as well as by providing signals for various metabolic processes. Sarcolemma possesses different hormone and drug receptors and any alteration in its composition could result in abnormal responses of the myocardium. We believe that heart failure is associated with sarcolemmal defects which can be detected by monitoring the activities of different membrane-bound enzymes and other related processes.