Development of a coronary-perfused interventricular septal preparation as a model for studying the role of the septum in arrhythmogenesis.
BACKGROUND
Coronary-perfused ventricular wedge preparations have proven valuable in the elucidation of the mechanisms of arrhythmias. This study was undertaken to develop an arterially perfused model of the interventricular (IV) septum.


METHODS
A canine septal preparation was developed via cannulation of the septal artery. Action potentials were recorded from ventricular endocardial surfaces and locations within the septum using floating microelectrodes; a transseptal electrocardiogram was simultaneously recorded. In some experiments, the calcium agonist BayK 8644 was used to enhance transseptal heterogeneity of action potential (AP) duration.


RESULTS
Distinctive electrocardiographic waveforms and dissimilar AP morphologies and durations were observed across the IV septum. The range of AP durations observed exceeded that found in the left ventricular wedge. BayK 8644 further accentuated these differences and induced torsades de pointes arrhythmias.


CONCLUSIONS
The arterially perfused septal preparation is a sensitive model for the study of arrhythmias that may arise from the IV septum.
Glass
Aaron
A
Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, Utica, NY, USA.
Sicouri
Serge
S
Antzelevitch
Charles
C
D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D010477:Perfusion / Q000379:methods*