PMID: 1188160Jan 1, 1975Paper

The role of myocardial membrane leakage channels in the production of fibrillation: studies with an analog computer model.

Recent Advances in Studies on Cardiac Structure and Metabolism
H Krause, H Tritthart

Abstract

The conditions under which automatic activity and fibrillation can occur were studied through the use of an analog model. Parameters (transmembrane active and passive properties) were established from biological data of mammalian myocardial fibers. The definition of instability of membrane potential can be given by the following functions of inward and outward steady state current (I) to voltage relationships of the membrane. 1) With decreasing angle between the tangent of the slope of the Iout and (-1) Iin, instability increases at constant potential. 2) Instability is also a function of the membrane potential as related to peak inward current (nonsteady state) at a given angle. 3) Maximum peak inward current and minimum angle produced such instability as to cause fibrillation. The most likely explanation is that automaticity and/or fibrillation is induced by leakage currents which change the normal current/voltage relatiosnhip in the described manner. The membrane leakage currents could be specific to sodium or unspecific.

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Arrhythmia

Arrhythmias are abnormalities in heart rhythms, which can be either too fast or too slow. They can result from abnormalities of the initiation of an impulse or impulse conduction or a combination of both. Here is the latest research on arrhythmias.

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle, that can lead to muscular or electrical dysfunction of the heart. It is often an irreversible disease that is associated with a poor prognosis. There are different causes and classifications of cardiomyopathies. Here are the latest discoveries pertaining to this disease.