Control of electrical alternans in canine cardiac purkinje fibers

Phys Rev Lett. 2006 Mar 17;96(10):104101. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.104101. Epub 2006 Mar 17.

Abstract

Alternation in the duration of consecutive cardiac action potentials (electrical alternans) may precipitate conduction block and the onset of arrhythmias. Consequently, suppression of alternans using properly timed premature stimuli may be antiarrhythmic. To determine the extent to which alternans control can be achieved in cardiac tissue, isolated canine Purkinje fibers were paced from one end using a feedback control method. Spatially uniform control of alternans was possible when alternans amplitude was small. However, control became attenuated spatially as alternans amplitude increased. The amplitude variation along the cable was well described by a theoretically expected standing wave profile that corresponds to the first quantized mode of the one-dimensional Helmholtz equation. These results confirm the wavelike nature of alternans and may have important implications for their control using electrical stimuli.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials
  • Animals
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / diagnosis
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / pathology*
  • Biophysics / methods*
  • Dogs
  • Electrocardiography
  • Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac / instrumentation*
  • Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac / methods*
  • Heart Conduction System
  • Heart Ventricles
  • Purkinje Fibers / metabolism*
  • Time Factors
  • Ventricular Fibrillation