After Julien was stabilized and had been given antivenom, theattending physician came to talk to the Brahims. She explained thatthe mechanism of action for Chironex fleckeri, commonly known asthe box jellyfish, is not well understood. However, based on whatis known, it seems the toxin has multiple effects. One component ofthe toxin is thought to function as a calcium pore-forming proteinthat is inserted into the membrane of autorhythmic cells (andpossibly other cells). Tanya thought back to her physiology courseand remembered that intracellular calcium concentrations are muchlower than extracellular concentrations. She knew that this ionplays a large role in cardiac cells and in muscles. When stung,Julien had felt lethargic and was having trouble breathing, andnoticed something off with his heart rate. Tanya started to wonderabout the pathophysiology of this venom. While she sat next toJulien she began running through various physiological scenarios inher head.
Question
11. Based on what the physician stated, how doyou think this toxin would impact the action potentials andfunction of autorhythmic cells and the activity of theheart? State your hypothesis, and then draw a graph toaccompany your predicted outcome.
