Ventricular arrhythmogenesis: insights from murine models

Ventricular arrhythmias are the key underlying cause of sudden cardiac death, a common cause of mortality and a significant public health burden. Insights into the electrophysiological basis of such phenomena have been obtained using a wide range of recording techniques and a diversity of experimental models. As in other fields of biology, the murine system presents both a wealth of opportunities and important challenges when employed to model the human case. This article begins by reviewing the extent to which the murine heart is representative of that of the human. It then presents a novel physiological classification of mechanisms of arrhythmogenesis, critically assessing the extent to which the study of murine hearts has offered worthwhile insights.