title: Electrophysiological mapping of embryonic mouse hearts: mechanisms for developmental pacemaker switch and internodal conduction pathway.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Understanding sinoatrial node (SAN) development could help in developing therapies for SAN dysfunction. However, electrophysiological investigation of SAN development remains difficult because mutant mice with SAN dysfunctions are frequently embryonically lethal. Most research on SAN development is therefore limited to immunocytochemical observations without comparable functional studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We applied a multielectrode array (MEA) recording system to study SAN development in mouse hearts acutely isolated at embryonic ages (E) 8.5-12.5 days. Physiological heart rates were routinely restored, enabling accurate functional assessment of SAN development. We found that dominant pacemaking activity originated from the left inflow tract (LIFT) region at E8.5, but switched to the right SAN by E12.5. Combining MEA recordings and pharmacological agents, we show that intracellular calcium (Ca(2+))-mediated automaticity develops early and is the major mechanism of pulse generation in the LIFT of E8.5 hearts. Later in development at E12.5, sarcolemmal ion channels develop in the SAN at a time when pacemaker channels are down-regulated in the LIFT, leading to a switch in the dominant pacemaker location. Additionally, low micromolar concentrations of tetrodotoxin (TTX), a sodium channel blocker, minimally affect pacemaker rhythm at E8.5-E12.5, but suppress atrial activation and reveal a TTX-resistant SAN-atrioventricular node (internodal) pathway that mediates internodal conduction in E12.5 hearts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using a physiological mapping method, we demonstrate that differential mechanistic development of automaticity between the left and right inflow tract regions confers the pacemaker location switch. Moreover, a TTX-resistant pathway mediates preferential internodal conduction in E12.5 mouse hearts.
authors: Center for Neuroscience, Aging and Stem Cell Research, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
authors: Tongyin
authors: T
authors: Yi
authors: Johnson
authors: J
authors: Wong
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Feller
authors: Samantha
authors: S
authors: Sink
authors: Ouarda
authors: O
authors: Taghli-Lamallem
authors: Jianyan
authors: J
authors: Wen
authors: Changsung
authors: C
authors: Kim
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Fink
authors: Wayne
authors: W
authors: Giles
authors: Walid
authors: W
authors: Soussou
authors: Huei-Sheng V
authors: HS
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001283:Atrioventricular Node / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology*; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001896:Boron Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000196:embryology*; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D012433:Ryanodine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012508:Sarcolemma / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012849:Sinoatrial Node / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology*; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C538758:2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate; D001896:Boron Compounds; D007473:Ion Channels; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers; D012433:Ryanodine; D013779:Tetrodotoxin