Abstract
For effective cardiac contraction to occur, efficient handling of Ca2+ is required. This process is enhanced by transverse tubules (TTs) which are invaginations of the cardiomyocyte plasma membrane and are involved in Ca2+ signaling. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common form of arrhythmia characterized by an irregular heartbeat. Current treatments for AF lead to many patients re-exhibiting AF symptoms, hence novel therapies are urgently required. Previous studies show TT remodeling in ventricular myocytes following heart disease, leading to impaired contractility. However, it is currently unknown whether TTs remodel in the human atria, therefore this study aimed to examine this.