The role of the Cx43/Cx45 gap junction voltage gating on wave propagation and arrhythmogenic activity in cardiac tissue.

ABSTRACT: Gap junctions (GJs) formed of connexin (Cx) protein are the main conduits of electrical signals in the heart. Studies indicate that the transitional zone of the atrioventricular (AV) node contains heterotypic Cx43/Cx45 GJ channels which are highly sensitive to transjunctional voltage (V_j). To investigate the putative role of V_j gating of Cx43/Cx45 channels, we performed electrophysiological recordings in cell cultures and developed a novel mathematical/computational model which, for the first time, combines GJ channel V_j gating with a model of membrane excitability to simulate a spread of electrical pulses in 2D. Our simulation and electrophysiological data show that V_j transients during the spread of cardiac excitation can significantly affect t

SUBMITTER: Maciunas K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10491658 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature