Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Collision-based spiral acceleration in cardiac media: roles of wavefront curvature and excitable gap.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Tranquillo, JV; Badie, N; Henriquez, CS; Bursac, N
Published in: Biophysical journal
April 2010

We have previously shown in experimental cardiac cell monolayers that rapid point pacing can convert basic functional reentry (single spiral) into a stable multiwave spiral that activates the tissue at an accelerated rate. Here, our goal is to further elucidate the biophysical mechanisms of this rate acceleration without the potential confounding effects of microscopic tissue heterogeneities inherent to experimental preparations. We use computer simulations to show that, similar to experimental observations, single spirals can be converted by point stimuli into stable multiwave spirals. In multiwave spirals, individual waves collide, yielding regions with negative wavefront curvature. When a sufficient excitable gap is present and the negative-curvature regions are close to spiral tips, an electrotonic spread of excitatory currents from these regions propels each colliding spiral to rotate faster than the single spiral, causing an overall rate acceleration. As observed experimentally, the degree of rate acceleration increases with the number of colliding spiral waves. Conversely, if collision sites are far from spiral tips, excitatory currents have no effect on spiral rotation and multiple spirals rotate independently, without rate acceleration. Understanding the mechanisms of spiral rate acceleration may yield new strategies for preventing the transition from monomorphic tachycardia to polymorphic tachycardia and fibrillation.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Biophysical journal

DOI

EISSN

1542-0086

ISSN

0006-3495

Publication Date

April 2010

Volume

98

Issue

7

Start / End Page

1119 / 1128

Related Subject Headings

  • Time Factors
  • Rats
  • Myocytes, Cardiac
  • Movement
  • Heart Ventricles
  • Heart
  • Electrophysiology
  • Computer Simulation
  • Biophysics
  • Biophysics
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Tranquillo, J. V., Badie, N., Henriquez, C. S., & Bursac, N. (2010). Collision-based spiral acceleration in cardiac media: roles of wavefront curvature and excitable gap. Biophysical Journal, 98(7), 1119–1128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2009.12.4281
Tranquillo, Joseph V., Nima Badie, Craig S. Henriquez, and Nenad Bursac. “Collision-based spiral acceleration in cardiac media: roles of wavefront curvature and excitable gap.Biophysical Journal 98, no. 7 (April 2010): 1119–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2009.12.4281.
Tranquillo JV, Badie N, Henriquez CS, Bursac N. Collision-based spiral acceleration in cardiac media: roles of wavefront curvature and excitable gap. Biophysical journal. 2010 Apr;98(7):1119–28.
Tranquillo, Joseph V., et al. “Collision-based spiral acceleration in cardiac media: roles of wavefront curvature and excitable gap.Biophysical Journal, vol. 98, no. 7, Apr. 2010, pp. 1119–28. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.bpj.2009.12.4281.
Tranquillo JV, Badie N, Henriquez CS, Bursac N. Collision-based spiral acceleration in cardiac media: roles of wavefront curvature and excitable gap. Biophysical journal. 2010 Apr;98(7):1119–1128.
Journal cover image

Published In

Biophysical journal

DOI

EISSN

1542-0086

ISSN

0006-3495

Publication Date

April 2010

Volume

98

Issue

7

Start / End Page

1119 / 1128

Related Subject Headings

  • Time Factors
  • Rats
  • Myocytes, Cardiac
  • Movement
  • Heart Ventricles
  • Heart
  • Electrophysiology
  • Computer Simulation
  • Biophysics
  • Biophysics