Unidirectional block in Purkinje fibers

Three methods of inducing focal conduction disturbances in free-running sheep Purkinje fibers (symmetric and asymmetric focal cooling and asymmetric focal crushing) were explored in 50 preparations. Complete unidirectional block was induced in only a minority of symmetrically cooled preparations whereas the asymmetric lesions generated this conduction disturbance in 80-85% of preparations. The block was more stable when induced by crushing than by asymmetric cooling but was more readily reversible with the latter. The direction of block coincided with the least abrupt gradient in the intensity of the lesion (82-94%), was reversible upon reorientation of the cooling lesion, and was independent of anatomic orientation or pre-existing asymmetries of conduction. The models of unidirectional block described in this paper may be useful in the elucidation of the mechanism of asymmetric conduction disturbances and in studies of the mechanism of action of antiarrhythmic drugs.