Comparison of complex fractionated atrial electrograms at cellular scale using numerical and experimental models

Area of Science:

• Cardiac Electrophysiology
• Computational Biology
• Cellular Cardiology

Background:

• Complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs) are associated with atrial fibrillation.
• The cellular mechanisms underlying CFAE generation remain incompletely understood.
• Spiral wave dynamics are implicated in cardiac arrhythmias.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the existence and characteristics of pseudo CFAEs at the cellular level.
• To determine if CFAEs can be generated from spiral wave activity in cardiac cells.

Main Methods:

• Development of a numerical model to simulate cardiac cell electrophysiology and spiral wave formation.
• Establishment of an in vitro experimental model using neonatal rat cardiac cells.
• Qualitative comparison of pseudo bipolar electrograms generated from both models.

Main Results:

• Spiral waves were successfully generated in both the numerical and experimental models.
• Pseudo bipolar electrograms were recorded from both models.
• Identifiable patterns in the pseudo electrograms were associated with CFAE signatures.

Conclusions:

• Pseudo CFAEs can manifest at the cellular level.
• Spiral wave activity is a potential mechanism for generating CFAE-like signals.
• This study provides cellular-level insights into the origins of CFAEs.