The role of connexin40 in developing atrial conduction.
Connexin40 (Cx40) is the main connexin expressed in the murine atria and ventricular conduction system. We assess here the developmental role of Cx40 in atrial conduction of the mouse. Cx40 deficiency significantly prolonged activation times in embryonic day 10.5, 12.5 and 14.5 atria during spontaneous activation; the severity decreased with increasing age. In a majority of Cx40 deficient mice the impulse originated from an ectopic focus in the right atrial appendage; in such a case the activation time was even longer due to prolonged activation. Cx40 has thus an important physiological role in the developing atria.
Department of Cardiovascular Morphogenesis, Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic; Charles University in Prague, First Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy, U Nemocnice 3, Prague, Czech Republic; Charles University in Prague, First Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology of the First Faculty of Medicine and General Teaching Hospital, U Nemocnice 2, Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address: jiri.benes2@lf1.cuni.cz.
Jiri
J
Benes
CNR Institute of Neurosciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, Padova 35121, Italy.
Grazia
G
Ammirabile
Department of Cardiovascular Morphogenesis, Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic; Charles University in Prague, First Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy, U Nemocnice 3, Prague, Czech Republic.
Barbora
B
Sankova
CNR Institute of Neurosciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, Padova 35121, Italy.
Marina
M
Campione
Department of Cardiovascular Morphogenesis, Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic; Charles University in Prague, First Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy, U Nemocnice 3, Prague, Czech Republic.
Eliska
E
Krejci
Charles University in Prague, First Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy, U Nemocnice 3, Prague, Czech Republic.
Alena
A
Kvasilova
Department of Cardiovascular Morphogenesis, Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic; Charles University in Prague, First Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy, U Nemocnice 3, Prague, Czech Republic.
David
D
Sedmera
D000818:Animals; D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D017630:Connexins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D012849:Sinoatrial Node / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D000097003:Gap Junction alpha-5 Protein
D017630:Connexins; D000097003:Gap Junction alpha-5 Protein
Arrhythmogenesis; Heart development; Mouse embryo; Optical mapping; Sinoatrial node