Impulse propagation in late-stage embryonic and neonatal murine ventricular slices

To evaluate whether field potential recordings from murine ventricular slice preparations serve as a model to investigate impulse propagation.

Late-stage embryonic and neonatal murine hearts were sliced by a vibratome. Slices were placed on planar microelectrode arrays (MEAs). Field potentials of spontaneously beating and electrically stimulated contractions were recorded. The maximal negative deflection of the field potentials (dV / dt) was calculated to assess the local activation time, to create activation sequence maps, and to estimate conduction velocity.

Mapping of impulse propagation of late-stage embryonic and neonatal murine ventricular slices and estimation of conduction velocities is feasible using the MEA technique showing an impulse propagation reflecting anatomical structures and conduction velocities similar to those obtained with other techniques.

The combination of viable ventricular slice preparations with the MEA technique offers a versatile and powerful technique to study cardiac impulse propagation.