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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
4
pubmed:dateCreated
2005-4-5
pubmed:abstractText
Purkinje fibers play essential roles in impulse propagation to the ventricles, and their functional impairment can become arrhythmogenic. However, little is known about precise spatiotemporal pattern(s) of interconnection between Purkinje-fiber network and the underlying ventricular myocardium within the heart. To address this issue, we simultaneously visualized intracellular Ca(2+) dynamics at Purkinje fibers and subjacent ventricular myocytes in Langendorff-perfused rat hearts using multi-pinhole type, rapid-scanning confocal microscopy. Under recording of electrocardiogram at room temperature spatiotemporal changes in fluo3-fluorescence intensity were visualized on the subendocardial region of the right-ventricular septum. Staining of the heart with either fluo3, acetylthiocholine iodide (ATCHI), or di-4-ANEPPS revealed characteristic structures of Purkinje fibers. During sinus rhythm (about 60 bpm) or atrial pacing (up to 3 Hz) each Purkinje-fiber exhibited spatiotemporally synchronous Ca(2+) transients nearly simultaneously to ventricular excitation. Ca(2+) transients in individual fibers were still synchronized within the Purkinje-fiber network not only under high-K(+) (8 mM) perfusion-induced Purkinje-to-ventricular (P-V) conduction delay, but also under unidirectional, orthodromic P-V block produced by 10-mM K(+) perfusion. While spontaneous, asynchronous intracellular Ca(2+) waves were identified in injured fibers of Purkinje network locally, surrounding fibers still exhibited Ca(2+) transients synchronously to ventricular excitation. In summary, these results are the first demonstration of intracellular Ca(2+) dynamics in the Purkinje-fiber network in situ. The synchronous Ca(2+) transients, preserved even under P-V conduction disturbances or under emergence of Ca(2+) waves, imply a syncytial role of Purkinje fibers as a specialized conduction system, whereas unidirectional block at P-V junctions indicates a substrate for reentrant arrhythmias.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Apr
pubmed:issn
0022-2828
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
38
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
561-9
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2005
pubmed:articleTitle
In situ Ca2+ dynamics of Purkinje fibers and its interconnection with subjacent ventricular myocytes.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Pathology and Cell Regulation, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kamigyo-Ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Comparative Study, In Vitro, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't