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Mapping of Epicardial Activation in a Rabbit Model of Chronic Myocardial Infarction:
Author(s) -
WALKER NICOLA L.,
BURTON FRANCIS L.,
KETTLEWELL SARAH,
SMITH GODFREY L.,
COBBE STUART M.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.193
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1540-8167
pISSN - 1045-3873
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8167.2007.00858.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endocardium , ventricle , cardiology , optical mapping , myocardial infarction , border zone , stimulation , ligation , ablation , nerve conduction velocity , infarction
This study examines the consequences of a large transmural apical infarct on the epicardial electrical activity in isolated rabbit hearts. Methods and Results: Hearts were isolated 8 weeks after coronary artery ligation. Membrane voltage from the epicardial surface of the left ventricle (LV) including the infarct was monitored using the voltage sensitive dye RH237. Optical action potentials were detected from the epicardial surface of the infarct; the signal amplitude was ∼20% of those in the noninfarcted zone (NZ). Epicardial activation mapping of the LV free wall showed that during right atrial (RA) pacing, the activation sequence was not significantly different between infarcted and sham‐operated groups. However, direct stimulation of the epicardium in the NZ revealed an area of slow conduction velocity (CV ∼5 cm/s −1 , ∼10% of normal values) at the margin of the infarct zone (IZ). Within the IZ, CV was ∼50% of normal. A prominent endocardial rim of myocardium in the infarct was not the source of epicardial optical signals because chemical ablation of the endocardium did not affect the epicardial activation pattern. Concluson: Therefore, remnant groups of myocytes in the mid‐wall and epicardium of the infarct scar support normal electrical activation during RA pacing. Areas of delayed conduction emerge only on epicardial stimulation.