Case Western Reserve, 19673005 Wahl Hall East
3901 Rainbow Boulevard
Kansas City, KS 66160
Phone: (913) 588-7413
Fax: (913) 588-7430
mtarr@kumc.edu
The overall thrust of my research is to elucidate the electrophysiological and contractile properties of heart tissue. Isolated, single cardiac cells are used for this purpose. Presently, my laboratory is investigating the effects of highly reactive oxygen species (ROS) and/or free radicals on the ionic currents responsible for generating electrical activity in single heart cells. Free radicals and ROS play a major role in tissue damage that occurs following the reintroduction of oxygen to ischemic tissue. In the heart, such reintroduction of oxygen can result in the production of arrhythmias, fibrillation and death. We want to understand how the ROS and free radicals alter the electrical properties of heart tissue.
Tarr, M., A. Frolov and D.P. Valenzeno. Photosensitization-induced calcium overload in cardiac cells: Direct link to membrane permeabilization and calcium influx. Photochem. Photobiol. 73:418-424, 2001.
Valenzeno, D.P. and M. Tarr. Calcium as a modulator of photosensitized killing of H9c2 cardiac cell. Photochem. Photobiol. 74: 605-610, 2001.
Valenzeno, D.P. and M. Tarr. Ion currents as initiators of light-induced effects: Studies using photosensitizers, Laser Therapy 13:86-94, 2001.
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