The Role of Purkinje-Myocardial Coupling during Ventricular Arrhythmia: A Modeling Study

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088000
• Publication Date: 2014-02-07T21:45:17Z
• Authors: Elham Behradfar; Anders Nygren; Edward J. Vigmond
• Keywords: Reentry; Purkinje fibers

The Purkinje system is the fast conduction network of heart which couples to myocardium at discrete sites called Purkinje-Myocyte Junctions (PMJs). However, distribution and number PMJs remains elusive, as does whether a particular PMJ functional. We hypothesized that plays role during reentry functional affect dynamics. used computer finite element model rabbit ventricles in we varied PMJs. Sustained, complex was induced by applying an electric shock maintaining arrhythmia assessed analyzing phase singularities, frequency activation, bidirectional propagation For larger junctional resistances, increasing density increased mean firing rate system, percentage successful retrograde PMJs, incidence wave break on epicardium. not affected. Furthermore, above 13/[Formula: see text] did alter lower trend clear. conclude topology affects dynamics conditions can