Simulation study of complex action potential conduction in atrioventricular node

Abstract

The atrioventricular (AV) node, which is located between the atria and ventricles of the heart, acts as important roles in cardiac excitation conduction between the two chambers. Although there are multiple conduction pathways in the AV node, the structure of the AV node has not been clarified. In this study, we constructed a one-dimensional model of the AV node and simulated excitation conduction between the right atrium and the bundle of His via the AV node. We also investigated several characteristics of the AV node: (1) responses of the AV node to high-rate excitation in the right atrium, (2) the AV nodal reentrant beat induced by premature stimulus, and (3) ventricular rate control during atrial fibrillation with various methods. Our simulation results suggest that multiple conduction pathways act as important roles in controlling the ventricular rate. The one-dimensional model constructed in this study may be useful to analyze complex conduction patterns in the AV node.

Simulation of ventricular rate control during atrial fibrillation using ionic channel blockers

“…In this study, we improved the 1D model from a previous study [6] to simulate the compact AV node affected by atrial muscle electrotonically. The previous model did not allow simulating excitation conduction in the AV node at high excitation rates in the atrium [9]. In the previous model, the next excitation arrived from the atrium to the compact AV node before its complete repolarization (Fig.…”

“…We also conducted simulations to investigate the mechanisms of excitation conduction in the AV node and ventricular rate control during AF [9]. However, we have not previously analyzed in detail the mechanisms that may explain why calcium channel blockers are suitable for ventricular rate control during AF but potassium channel blockers are not.…”

HD Physiology Project—Japanese efforts to promote multilevel integrative systems biology and physiome research

“…16,17 The second example (protective mechanism) resulted from simulations of the action potential propagation in the two-dimensional network model of myocardial fibers within the atrioventricular (AV) node: an anatomical tissue architecture in the AV node can function to protect against conduction block-mediated arrhythmias. 18 The third example (protective mechanism) resulted from simulations of the scroll-wave reentry in three-dimensional ventricular slab model: ventricular tissue architecture, including different types of myocyte and rotated fiber orientation, can reduce the risk of the development and sustainability of ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation attributed to the increase in the transmural dispersion of repolarization. 19 The subcellular localization of signaling molecules and intra-/intercellular microstructures between the molecular and cellular levels as well as the tissue architecture comprising various types of cells among the cellular, tissue, and organs levels are closely associated with the robustness of electrical phenomena in the heart as a principle of complementarity.…”

Luo Rudy Phase I excitation modeling towards HDL coder implementation for real-time simulation

“…Here, the design is started by constructing blocks to represent these six ion currents of sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride as in (9), where the inflow and outflow of these currents will cause changes to membrane voltage, V m charged on membrane capacitance, C m and the AP will be generated as an external stimulation current, I ext is applied to the cell [1].…”

“…However, the abnormalities of cardiac excitation known as cardiac arrhythmias can occur and could lead to abnormal contraction of cardiac muscle and preventing the heart to pump blood efficiently and also can cause fatal risk and sudden death [1][2][3]. Thus, until now, many studies related to the cardiac electrophysiological system have been conducted by using several methods to understand the underlying mechanisms in cardiac excitation and conduction [3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. By understanding the underlying mechanisms of the heart, it will results in improving the quality of life by providing better low cost patient-specific health care and to develop new treatment for heart disease [31].…”