Computer simulation of fibroblast-myocyte coupling showed that weak coupling (<0.25 nS) increased conduction velocity by up to 5%, while stronger coupling slowed conduction and prolonged action potential duration by 0-80 ms.
Computer simulations demonstrate that the strength of electrical coupling between fibroblasts and myocytes significantly alters conduction velocity, upstroke velocity, and action potential duration in a coupling-dependent manner.
The numerous nonmyocytes present within the myocardium may establish electrical connections with myocytes through gap junctions, formed naturally or as a result of a cell therapy. The strength of the coupling and its potential impact on action potential characteristics and conduction are not well understood. This study used computer simulation to investigate the load-induced electrophysiological consequences of the coupling of myocytes with fibroblasts, where the fibroblast resting potential, density, distribution, and coupling strength were varied. Conduction velocity (CV), upstroke velocity, and action potential duration (APD) were analyzed for longitudinal and transverse impulse propagation in a two-dimensional microstructure tissue model, developed to represent a monolayer culture of cardiac cells covered by a layer of fibroblasts. The results show that 1) at weak coupling (8 nS), all of the effects saturated; and 4) APD at 90% repolarization was usually prolonged by 0-20 ms (up to 60-80 ms for high fibroblast density and coupling) by the coupling to fibroblasts. The changes in APD depended on the fibroblast resting potential. This complex, coupling-dependent interaction of fibroblast and myocytes also has relevance to the integration of other nonmyocytes in the heart, such as those used in cellular therapies.
Jacquemet et al. (Sat,) conducted a other in Myocardium electrophysiology. Fibroblast-myocyte coupling vs. Control (no coupling or varying coupling strengths) was evaluated on Conduction velocity, upstroke velocity, and action potential duration. Computer simulation of fibroblast-myocyte coupling showed that weak coupling (<0.25 nS) increased conduction velocity by up to 5%, while stronger coupling slowed conduction and prolonged action potential duration by 0-80 ms.
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