Stimulation of the Intracardiac Nervous System to Assess Susceptibility to Arrhythmia

Take a heart perfusion apparatus connected to a data acquisition system.

Position a multi-electrode catheter for both electrical stimulation and heart rhythm monitoring.

Take a mouse heart with a cannula inserted into the aorta and connect it to the apparatus.

Perfuse the heart with an oxygenated perfusion buffer to mimic physiological circulation.

Insert the catheter into the right atrium and ventricle.

The cardiac conduction system, comprising pacemaker cells and conduction fibers, coordinates the synchronized contraction of heart chambers.

Apply electrical stimulation through the catheter to stabilize the heart's electrophysiological conditions.

Close the chamber to maintain a stable temperature.

Apply a controlled stimulation to measure baseline cardiac activity.

Next, increase the stimulation frequency to override the heart's normal rhythm, triggering irregular rhythms originating in the ventricles, known as ventricular arrhythmia.

Post-stimulation, the heart's return to a normal rhythm suggests resistance to arrhythmia, while continued abnormal rhythms indicate susceptibility.