(Circulation. 2001;103:1591.)
© 2001 American Heart Association, Inc.
Basic Science Reports |
Impaired Conduction in the Bundle Branches of Mouse Hearts Lacking the Gap Junction Protein Connexin40
From the Department of Medical Physiology (H.V.M.v.R., T.A.B.v.V., M.J.A.v.K., T.O., H.J.J.), Utrecht, The Netherlands; Interuniversity Cardiology Institute of the Netherlands (F.J.G.W.-S., J.M.T.d.B.), Utrecht, The Netherlands; the Department of Medical Physics (M.P.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; the Institute of Genetics (O.K., K.W.), University of Bonn, Germany; and the Department of Cardiology (J.M.T.d.B.), University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Correspondence to Harold V.M. van Rijen, PhD, Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Utrecht, PO Box 80043, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands. E-mail H.V.M.vanRijen{at}med.uu.nl
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Abstract |
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Background—Connexin (Cx)40 and Cx45 are the major protein subunits of gap junction channels in the conduction system of mammals. To determine the role of Cx40, we correlated cardiac activation with Connexin distribution in normal and Cx40-deficient mice hearts.
Methods and Results—Epicardial and septal activation was recorded in Langendorff-perfused adult mice hearts with a 247-point compound electrode (interelectrode distance, 0.3 mm). After electrophysiological measurements, hearts were prepared for immunohistochemistry and histology to determine Connexin distribution and fibrosis. In both wild-type and Cx40-deficient animals, epicardial activation patterns were similar. The right and left ventricular septum was invariably activated from base to apex. Histology revealed a continuity of myocytes from the common bundle to the septal myocardium. Within this continuity, colocalization was found of Cx43 and Cx45 but not of Cx40 and Cx43. Both animals showed similar His-bundle activation. In Cx40-deficient mice, the proximal bundle branches expressed Cx45 only. The absence of Cx40 in the proximal bundles correlated with right bundle-branch block. Conduction in the left bundle branch was impaired as compared with wild-type animals.
Conclusions—Our data show that (1) in mice, a continuity exists between the common bundle and the septum, and (2) Cx40 deficiency results in right bundle-branch block and impaired left bundle-branch conduction.
Key Words: proteins • bundle-branch block • conduction • immunohistochemistry • mapping
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Introduction |
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Electrical coupling of myocytes by gap junctions permits intercellular current flow, a prerequisite for cardiac conduction. Gap junctions are agglomerates of individual channels that directly connect the cytoplasm of adjacent cells. Gap junction channels are formed by head-to-head alignment of 2 hexameric hemichannels, each composed of 6 Connexin (Cx) molecules. At least 4 different cardiac connexins have been reported. Cx37 is found in rabbit endocardium,1 Cx40 is mainly found in the atrium and conduction system,2 3 4 5 6 7 8 and Cx43 is located in the atrial and ventricular myocardium and in the distal parts of the conduction system.4 5 8 Finally, Cx45 is present throughout the heart in small amounts,6 7 9 10 with some overexpression in the conduction system.11 12
Mice lacking the gene for Cx40 exhibit reduced atrial but not ventricular conduction velocity.13 The ECGs of Cx40 knockout mice have prolonged P waves, in agreement with reduced atrial conduction velocity. Moreover, the PR interval is prolonged, suggestive for atrioventricular (AV) nodal dysfunction.14 15 16 Also, QRS complexes of these animals are prolonged.14 15 16 Impaired function of the specific conduction system probably explains the prolonged QRS duration because Cx40 is normally not expressed in working ventricular myocardium.
The purpose of this study was to determine the role of Cx40 in propagation of the electrical impulse in the specific conduction system of the mouse heart.
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Methods |
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Animals
All mice of mixed genetic background (Cx57BL/6 and 129Sv) were generated and bred at the Institute of Genetics, University of Bonn (Germany), and genotyped by polymerase chain reaction as described.15 In total, 12 wild-type and 12 Cx40-/- littermates between 4 and 6 months of age were used for experiments. The study conformed to the guiding principles of the American Physiological Society.
Preparation of Hearts
Mice were anesthetized by
intraperitoneal injection of urethane (2 g/kg body
wt). The chest was opened and the heart was excised and submerged in
Tyrode’s solution17 at
4°C. With the aid of a binocular microscope, the heart was dissected
from the lung as well as other tissue and the aorta was cannulated.
Subsequently, the heart was connected to a Langendorff perfusion setup
and perfused at 37°C and perfusion pressure of 80 cm
H2O. Perfusion buffer composition was (in
mmol/L): NaCl 90, KCl 3.6,
KH2PO4 0.92,
MgSO4 0.92, NaHCO3 19.2,
CaCl2 1.8, glucose 22, creatine 6, taurine 6,
and insulin 0.1 µmol/L, gassed with 95% O2
and 5% CO2. In all experiments, the heart
started to beat immediately after initiating perfusion. Flow rate was
2 mL/min. To ensure proper temperature of the preparation, the heart
was placed against a heated (37°C) and continuously moisturized
support.
Recording of Electrograms
Extracellular electrograms were recorded with a
247-point multiterminal electrode, mounted in a micromanipulator.
Electrodes were silver wires with a diameter of 0.1 mm that were
isolated except at the tip. Electrode terminals were arranged in a
19x13 grid at interelectrode distances of 0.3 mm.
Recordings were made in unipolar mode with regard to a
reference electrode connected to the support of the heart. Electrograms
were acquired with the use of a custom-built, 256-channel,
data-acquisition system. Signals were bandpass-filtered (low cut-off,
0.16 Hz [12 dB]; high cut-off, 1 kHz [6 dB]) and digitized with
16-bit resolution at a bit step of 2 µV and a sampling frequency of 2
kHz. The input noise of the system was 4 µV (peak-peak). Data were
acquired at a sample rate of 2 kHz.
Epicardial recordings of the ventricles were made in sinus rhythm and paced rhythm [wild-type (knockout): left ventricle, n=12 (11); right ventricle n=12 (11)]. For the latter, a bipolar silver wire (diameter of poles, 0.1 mm; interelectrode distance, 0.2 mm) was positioned on one of the atria. Pacing was performed with a Grass bipolar isolated stimulator. Stimulus trains were generated by a Macintosh computer equipped with an AD board and custom-written software.
For septal measurements, the right and left ventricular free walls were removed. Surgical resection of the free wall sometimes resulted in AV block, thus prohibiting the recording of bundle activation. The electrode grid was positioned in basal position on the interventricular septum. Reliable determination of conduction velocity required electrograms at 4 adjacent electrodes [wild-type (knockout): left bundle branch (LBB), n=4 (3); right bundle branch (RBB), n=6 (12)]. AV nodal conduction curves were determined [wild-type (knockout): n=5 (5)]. The atrium was stimulated at a cycle length of 100 ms. Every 16th stimulus was followed by 1 premature stimulus. Starting at 90 ms, the coupling interval of the extra stimulus was reduced in steps of 5 ms until AV block occurred. We used the time constant of the conduction curve fitted to a monoexponential function as a measure for progressively increasing AH delay. His bundle measurements were made after opening of the right atrium. Subsequently, the center of the electrode grid was positioned on the coronary sinus and recordings were made [wild-type (knockout): n=3 (2)].
Data Analysis
Activation maps were constructed from the activation
times, determined with custom-written software based on Matlab (The
Mathworks Inc). The moment of maximal negative dV/dt in the unipolar
electrograms was selected as the time of local activation.
Activation times of the ventricular epicardia were corrected for sinus rhythm frequency by the use of the conduction curves of the His bundle.
Statistics
All numerical values are given as mean±SEM.
Statistical comparisons were performed with an unpaired Student’s
t test, with StatView 4.5. A
probability value of 0.05 was regarded as statistically
significant.
Immunohistochemistry and Histology
Connexin expression was compared between
Cx40-deficient (n=5) and wild-type littermates (n=5). The hearts were
connected to the Langendorff setup for several minutes to remove blood.
The hearts were rapidly frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at
-80°C.
The hearts were serially sectioned in frontal plane with a cryostat to produce 4-chamber-view sections. Sections incorporating the conduction system were incubated with primary antibodies directed against Cx40, Cx43, and Cx45. Desmin was used as a marker for the conduction system. Primary antibodies were visualized with fluorescent secondary antibodies as described previously.18 Sections were stained with picrosirius red and examined by light microscopy for assessment of fibrosis.19
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Results |
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Wild-type and Cx40-deficient mouse hearts did not differ in morphology or heart weight. In wild-type mice, gap junctions between atrial myocytes were composed of Cx40 and Cx43, whereas only Cx43 was detected in ventricular myocytes. In Cx40-deficient animals, only Cx43 was found in atrial myocardium.
Epicardial Connexin Expression and
Activation Patterns
Epicardial activation patterns were determined during
sinus rhythm (R-R interval, 172±6.8 and 188±13.8 ms in wild-type and
knockout hearts, respectively) and were not significantly different
between wild-type and knockout mice
(P=0.3). In 10 of 12 wild-type
hearts, earliest epicardial activation of the right ventricle was found
at the basal site, of which 8 had a second early activated area
at the apex or the septal/lateral wall
(Figure 1A
). In the other 2 hearts, breakthrough activation
was found in the mid free wall. Similarly, 10 of 11 Cx40-deficient
hearts showed earliest activation at the basal site, 8 of which also
had second early sites at the apex of the septal/lateral wall
(Figure 1B). In the remaining hearts, apical activation was
found. Left epicardial activation was similar to right
ventricular activation of both wild-type and knockout mice,
also showing predominant basal earliest activation.
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In wild-type animals, average corrected right ventricular activation occurred 4.8 ms earlier than left ventricular activation, whereas in knockout animals the opposite was found. Right ventricular activation was 2.6 ms later than left ventricular activation (P=0.01).
Bundle-Branch Conduction and Septal
Activation
After removal of the left and right
ventricular free walls, the electrode grid was positioned
against the left or right septal wall. The stimulation electrode was
placed on one of the atria to pace the heart at a constant rate.
Figure 2 shows typical examples of activation patterns of
the conduction system. LBB deflections (marked by asterisk in right
panels) were found in all experiments on both wild-type and
Cx40-deficient animals. RBB signals (asterisk in left panels) were
recorded in all wild-type animals. However, in only 1 of 12
Cx40-deficient hearts, full RBB activation was measured. In 3 (of 12)
Cx40-deficient hearts, RBB activation blocked at 0.3 or 0.6 mm
from the AV groove (as shown in
Figure 2), whereas in the other 8 hearts, no RBB signals
could be detected.
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In wild-type hearts, conduction velocities in the LBB and RBB were 0.42±0.03 m · s-1 and 0.31±0.04 m · s-1, respectively. Conduction velocity in the His bundle (0.52±0.15 m · s-1) was always faster than in the bundle branches.
In Cx40 knockout mice
(Figure 2
), the conduction velocity in the LBB was 0.28±0.02
m · s-1, significantly lower as compared
with wild-type mice (P=0.01).
RBB activation conducted at 0.32 m ·
s-1. In Cx40 knockout hearts, conduction
velocity in the His bundle was high (0.64±0.37) and not significantly
different from wild-type hearts
(P=0.76).
Figure 3 shows typical examples of right septal activation
patterns in wild-type
(Figure 3A) and Cx40-deficient hearts
(Figure 3B). In both the wild-type and Cx40-deficient mice,
earliest septal activation was seen invariably at the base. Activation
patterns of the left interventricular septum were identical
to the right septum.
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AV Conduction Characteristics
Figure 4 shows a typical example of a conduction curve. The
AH delay increases exponentially with decreasing coupling interval,
being almost identical in wild-type and Cx40-deficient animals. The
time constants of the conduction curves in both wild-type and
Cx40-deficient animals were similar and not statistically different
(wild-type, 20.8±3.9 ms; Cx40 knockout, 20.7±4.5 ms;
P=0.99). Also, the maximal
increase in delay was not different as well (wild-type, 21.5±3.7 ms;
Cx40 knockout, 23.6±2.7 ms;
P=0.68).
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) and Cx40 knockout (•) mice. No statistically significant differences were found between knockout and wild-type animals.Even though activation in the RBB blocks after 0.3 to 0.6 mm below the AV groove in Cx40-deficient animals, the activation times recorded at these proximal electrodes are not different from control.
Connexin Distribution in and Histology of the
Septum and Common Bundle
Figure 5 shows sections of the septum containing the
conduction system of both wild-type and Cx40-deficient hearts,
illustrating the distribution of Cx40, Cx43, Cx45, and
desmin.
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Cx40 Expression
In wild-type mice, Cx40 is abundantly expressed in the
His bundle, common bundle, and bundle branches
(Figure 5A). The Cx40 distribution indicates that the LBB is
much wider than the RBB. Cx40 was absent in the bundle branches of
Cx40-deficient mice
(Figure 5B)
Cx43 Expression
In both wild-type and Cx40-deficient hearts, Cx43 was
expressed in the septal region of the heart but not in the proximal
conduction system
(Figure 5, C and D).
Cx45 Expression
In both wild-type and Cx40-deficient hearts, Cx45
staining was found in the His bundle, the common bundle, proximal
bundle branches, and Purkinje system but not in the septal regions
(Figure 5, E and F).
Coexpression of Cx40, Cx43, and Cx45
Figure 6A shows a double labeling of Cx40 (green) and Cx43
(red). Cx40 was found in the common bundle and bundle branches (marked
by desmin in consecutive section in
Figure 6C) and Cx43 in the septum. No colocalization of Cx43
and Cx40 was found.
Figure 6B shows that the expression of Cx45 (green) extended
from the common bundle toward the septum, where Cx43 (red) is
expressed. Cx43 and Cx45 colocalize in the cells between the common
bundle and the septum (arrows). In both wild-type and Cx40-deficient
animals, electrical continuity is likely from the common bundle to the
septum and is mediated by Cx45.
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Connective Tissue in the Septum
Figure 6D shows a consecutive section of
Figure 6B stained for connective tissue (red). Thin septa of
connective tissue are present between the bundle branches and the
septum, but connective tissue is virtually absent at the common
bundle–septum interface (arrow). There is a clear continuity of
myocytes from the common bundle into the septum. Such continuity was
found in both wild-type and knockout mice and correlates with
basoapical activation of the ventricular septum
(Figure 3).
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Discussion |
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RBB But Not LBB in Cx40-Deficient Mice
The electrophysiological data showed RBB block in Cx40-deficient hearts. The immunohistochemical data show that no differences in morphology or Cx expression other than Cx40 are found, excluding any developmental changes. Therefore, our data are highly suggestive for functional block in the RBB of Cx40-deficient mice. The absence of Cx40 also significantly decreases conduction velocity in the LBB from 0.42 to 0.28 m · s-1. Presumably, conduction along the LBB occurs exclusively by gap junctions formed of Cx45. The reduced conduction velocity in the LBB is in accordance with observations in model studies and experiments on linear strands of cardiomyocytes. In these systems, a decrease of gap junction coupling results in reduction of conduction velocity.20 21 22 In these model studies, a reduction of conduction velocity from 0.43 to 0.28 m · s-1 (66% reduction) resulted from a reduction in coupling of
1.1 to 0.5 µs
(~65%).20 22 The absence of Cx40 in the RBB results in conduction block. However, Cx45 labeling is similar in the LBB and RBB, suggesting a similar degree of intercellular coupling. We can only speculate about the reason why RBB block occurs while the left bundle is still conducting, albeit with reduced conduction velocity. Reduced coupling between myocytes alone is not sufficient to explain this discrepancy. Simulations of impulse propagation in strands of myocytes have shown that the electrical coupling between cells must be reduced by at least a factor of 100 to result in conduction block.20 22 On the other hand, clinical studies have shown that the vulnerability of the right bundle for conduction block is greater than that of the left bundle.23 24 25 The smaller diameter of the right bundle may play a role because minor discontinuities are more prominent in such bundles for generating activation block by load mismatch.26 27 RBB block was also reported as a result of longitudinal dissociation in the His bundle.28 This RBB block could be normalized by pacing of the His bundle. It is, however, unlikely that longitudinal dissociation was present in our experiments. No conduction abnormalities of fractionated potentials were found in the His bundle activation measurements. Second, the RBB block was located 0.3 to 0.6 mm distal from the AV groove, and finally, the conduction curves measured at the site of the common bundle in Cx40 knockout hearts were not different from control. If a longitudinal dissociation were present in the His bundle, premature stimulation of the atria would have uncovered a progressive AH delay.
Conduction velocity in the His bundle was not different between wild-type and Cx40 knockout. The absence of Cx40, leaving Cx45 as the only Cx in the His bundle, presumably does not reduce intercellular conductance to a level at which conduction velocity is also reduced (also see Reference 2222 ).
The measured RBB block and reduced conduction velocity in the LBB fit well in the previously reported phenotype of the Cx40-deficient mice. One overall finding is that the delay between atrial and ventricular activation (PR interval) is increased,13 14 15 16 probably caused by the decreased conduction velocity in the working atrial myocardium13 and in the conduction system (this study).
Second, an increased QRS duration has been reported in Cx40 knockout mice.13 14 15 16 Impaired ventricular activation can be due to slow conduction along the ventricle, which is unlikely because Cx40 is normally not expressed in the ventricle or results from abnormal ventricular activation by the conduction system. Impairment of the conduction system in Cx40 knockout mice was suggested by Simon et al,16 based on the long and split QRS complexes and frontal axis deviation in Cx40-deficient mice. We previously reported that the QRS duration in Cx40-deficient mice was only prolonged in sinus rhythm but not during ventricular pacing, indicating that activation of the ventricles rather than ventricular conduction itself is impaired.13 Our experimental results confirm these hypotheses by direct demonstration of RBB activation block in Cx40-deficient mice.
Septal Activation in Wild-Type and
Cx40-Deficient Mice
In larger mammals, intraventricular
septal activation occurs from left to right and from apex to
base.29 30 The
proximal conduction system is electrically insulated from the septal
myocardium by a fibrotic sheet, to ensure
ventricular activation after dispersal of the impulse
through the conduction
system.31 Our experiments
show that ventricular activation does not follow this
pathway in mouse hearts, either wild-type or
Cx40-deficient.
Septal measurements of both wild-type and Cx40-deficient hearts always showed a basoapical activation sequence, suggesting a direct electrical connection between the common bundle and the septum. This direct electrical connection indeed seems present, because the fibrotic sheet between the septum and conduction system shows large fenestrations, as reported by Lev and Thaemert.32 Furthermore, coexpression of Cx45 and Cx43 was found in the transitional region.
A previous study by Coppen et al12 reported that in the proximal conduction system, Cx45 is not only coexpressed with Cx40 but that this expression extends through several cell layers in septal and lateral directions. Coexpression of Cx45 with Cx43 in this region was, however, not reported.
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Conclusions |
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Our study shows that in mice, a continuity exists between the common bundle and the septum, both histological and electrical, and that absence of Cx40 results in RBB block and impaired LBB conduction.
Our observation of an electrical continuity between the common bundle and the septum prohibits comparison of global activation patterns in the mouse and human heart. Our results show, however, that the vulnerability of the RBB is greater than that of the LBB, which is in line with data in patients.23 24 25 This might also be the case for the preferred site of block, which is at a basal site in the RBB rather than at the muscle-Purkinje junction.
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Acknowledgments |
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This study was supported by the Netherlands Heart Foundation (grant 97.184) and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (grant 902-16-193). Work in the Bonn laboratory was supported by the German Research Organization (SFB, grant number 284 [C1]) and the Foundation for Chemical Industry (Dr Willecke). The laboratories of Dr Jongsma and Dr Willecke acknowledge support by the European Community (Biomed QLG1-CT-1999-00516).
Received July 14, 2000; revision received September 15, 2000; accepted September 21, 2000.
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S. Bagwe, O. Berenfeld, D. Vaidya, G. E. Morley, and J. Jalife Altered Right Atrial Excitation and Propagation in Connexin40 Knockout Mice Circulation, October 11, 2005; 112(15): 2245 - 2253. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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T. A.B. van Veen, M. Stein, A. Royer, K. Le Quang, F. Charpentier, W. H. Colledge, C. L.-H. Huang, R. Wilders, A. A. Grace, D. Escande, et al. Impaired Impulse Propagation in Scn5a-Knockout Mice: Combined Contribution of Excitability, Connexin Expression, and Tissue Architecture in Relation to Aging Circulation, September 27, 2005; 112(13): 1927 - 1935. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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 M. M. Kreuzberg, G. Sohl, J.-S. Kim, V. K. Verselis, K. Willecke, and F. F. Bukauskas Functional Properties of Mouse Connexin30.2 Expressed in the Conduction System of the Heart Circ. Res., June 10, 2005; 96(11): 1169 - 1177. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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A. Royer, T. A.B. van Veen, S. Le Bouter, C. Marionneau, V. Griol-Charhbili, A.-L. Leoni, M. Steenman, H. V.M. van Rijen, S. Demolombe, C. A. Goddard, et al. Mouse Model of SCN5A-Linked Hereditary Lenegre's Disease: Age-Related Conduction Slowing and Myocardial Fibrosis Circulation, April 12, 2005; 111(14): 1738 - 1746. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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R. Khan Identifying and understanding the role of pulmonary vein activity in atrial fibrillation Cardiovasc Res, December 1, 2004; 64(3): 387 - 394. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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L. Miquerol, S. Meysen, M. Mangoni, P. Bois, H. V.M van Rijen, P. Abran, H. Jongsma, J. Nargeot, and D. Gros Architectural and functional asymmetry of the His-Purkinje system of the murine heart Cardiovasc Res, July 1, 2004; 63(1): 77 - 86. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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B. E.J Teunissen and M. F.A Bierhuizen Transcriptional control of myocardial connexins Cardiovasc Res, May 1, 2004; 62(2): 246 - 255. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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A. P Moreno Biophysical properties of homomeric and heteromultimeric channels formed by cardiac connexins Cardiovasc Res, May 1, 2004; 62(2): 276 - 286. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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D. Gros, L. Dupays, S. Alcolea, S. Meysen, L. Miquerol, and M. Theveniau-Ruissy Genetically modified mice: tools to decode the functions of connexins in the heart--new models for cardiovascular research Cardiovasc Res, May 1, 2004; 62(2): 299 - 308. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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H. V.M. van Rijen, D. Eckardt, J. Degen, M. Theis, T. Ott, K. Willecke, H. J. Jongsma, T. Opthof, and J. M.T. de Bakker Slow Conduction and Enhanced Anisotropy Increase the Propensity for Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias in Adult Mice With Induced Deletion of Connexin43 Circulation, March 2, 2004; 109(8): 1048 - 1055. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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S. M. Taffet and J. Jalife Swapping Connexin Genes: How Big Is the Gap? Circ. Res., January 9, 2004; 94(1): 4 - 6. [Full Text] [PDF]
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S. Alcolea, T. Jarry-Guichard, J. de Bakker, D. Gonzalez, W. Lamers, S. Coppen, L. Barrio, H. Jongsma, D. Gros, and H. van Rijen Replacement of Connexin40 by Connexin45 in the Mouse: Impact on Cardiac Electrical Conduction Circ. Res., January 9, 2004; 94(1): 100 - 109. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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H. Gu, F. C. Smith, S. M. Taffet, and M. Delmar High Incidence of Cardiac Malformations in Connexin40-Deficient Mice Circ. Res., August 8, 2003; 93(3): 201 - 206. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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