This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Efimov, I. R. Articles by Mazgalev, T. N. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Efimov, I. R. Articles by Mazgalev, T. N.

(Circulation. 1998;98:54-57.)
© 1998 American Heart Association, Inc.

Basic Science Reports

High-Resolution, Three-dimensional Fluorescent Imaging Reveals Multilayer Conduction Pattern in the Atrioventricular Node

Igor R. Efimov, PhD; ; Todor N. Mazgalev, PhD

From the Department of Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio.

Correspondence to Todor Mazgalev, PhD, Department of Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44195. E-mail mazgalt{at}cesmtp.ccf.org

Background—The atrioventricular node (AVN) is the only normal electrical link between the upper and lower chambers of the heart. The AVN modulates transmission of impulses, thus coordinating the contraction of the atria and ventricles.

Methods and Results—Structural and functional complexity, combined with the absence of adequate experimental techniques, has complicated attempts to directly evaluate the three-dimensional electrical activity of the AVN. Thus, despite a century of research by conventional electrophysiologic and histologic methods, even the existence of conduction through AVN is still debated.

Conclusions—Using a novel combination of microelectrode recordings and high resolution fluorescent imaging with voltage-sensitive dyes, we have for the first time clearly demonstrated three-dimensional conduction through the AVN.

Key Words: atrioventricular node • conduction • mapping • imaging

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. E. Mangoni and J. Nargeot Genesis and Regulation of the Heart Automaticity Physiol Rev, July 1, 2008; 88(3): 919 - 982. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. J. Hucker, V. V. Fedorov, K. V. Foyil, N. Moazami, and I. R. Efimov Optical Mapping of the Human Atrioventricular Junction Circulation, March 18, 2008; 117(11): 1474 - 1477. [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. J. Hucker, V. Sharma, V. P. Nikolski, and I. R. Efimov Atrioventricular conduction with and without AV nodal delay: two pathways to the bundle of His in the rabbit heart Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, August 1, 2007; 293(2): H1122 - H1130. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. R. Efimov, V. P. Nikolski, and G. Salama Optical Imaging of the Heart Circ. Res., July 9, 2004; 95(1): 21 - 33. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. K. Racker The AV junction region of the heart: a comprehensive study correlating gross anatomy and direct three-dimensional analysis. Part II. Morphology and cytoarchitecture Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, May 1, 2004; 286(5): H1853 - H1871. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y.-S. Ko, H.-I Yeh, Y.-L. Ko, Y.-C. Hsu, C.-F. Chen, S. Wu, Y.-S. Lee, and N. J. Severs Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of the Rabbit Atrioventricular Conduction Axis by Combining Histological, Desmin, and Connexin Mapping Data Circulation, March 9, 2004; 109(9): 1172 - 1179. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Dobrzynski, V. P. Nikolski, A. T. Sambelashvili, I. D. Greener, M. Yamamoto, M. R. Boyett, and I. R. Efimov Site of Origin and Molecular Substrate of Atrioventricular Junctional Rhythm in the Rabbit Heart Circ. Res., November 28, 2003; 93(11): 1102 - 1110. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. P. Nikolski, S. A. Jones, M. K. Lancaster, M. R. Boyett, and I. R. Efimov Cx43 and Dual-Pathway Electrophysiology of the Atrioventricular Node and Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry Circ. Res., March 7, 2003; 92(4): 469 - 475. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Nikolski and I. R. Efimov Fluorescent Imaging of a Dual-Pathway Atrioventricular-Nodal Conduction System Circ. Res., February 16, 2001; 88 (3): e23 - e30. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Al-Khadra, V. Nikolski, and I. R. Efimov The Role of Electroporation in Defibrillation Circ. Res., October 27, 2000; 87(9): 797 - 804. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. R. Efimov, F. Aguel, Y. Cheng, B. Wollenzier, and N. Trayanova Virtual electrode polarization in the far field: implications for external defibrillation Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, September 1, 2000; 279(3): H1055 - H1070. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. C Rankin and A. J Workman Rate control in atrial fibrillation: role of atrial inputs to the AV node Cardiovasc Res, November 1, 1999; 44(2): 249 - 251. [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Sun, E. O. Velipasaoglu, D. E. Wu, H. A. Kopelen, W. A. Zoghbi, W. H. Spencer III, and D. S. Khoury Simultaneous Multisite Mapping of the Right and the Left Atrial Septum in the Canine Intact Beating Heart Circulation, July 20, 1999; 100(3): 312 - 319. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. H. Anderson, T. N. Mazgalev, and I. R. Efimov Three-Dimensional Imaging of Atrioventricular Node • Response Circulation, April 27, 1999; 99 (16): 2219 - 2222. [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. R. Efimov; and B.-R. Choi Letters to the Editor Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, November 1, 1998; 275(5): H1905 - H1909. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Wu, J. Wu, J. Olgin, J. M. Miller, and D. P. Zipes Mechanisms Underlying the Reentrant Circuit of Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia in Isolated Canine Atrioventricular Nodal Preparation Using Optical Mapping Circ. Res., June 8, 2001; 88(11): 1189 - 1195. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]