What is it about?

Contraction in the muscle cells of the mature heart begins at specialized areas where signals on the cell surface are passed inside. These areas are called "dyads" because there are two key proteins involved, one on the external membrane and one on an internal cell structure called the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Both of these proteins control passage of calcium ions across cell membranes to cause contraction. How dyads develop in the fetal heart over gestation has not been understood in large animals.

Why is it important?

How dyads develop is important because they control contractile function, which can contribute to health or disease even in the fetus and newborn.

Find this paper in The Journal of Physiology and Pubmed.