Supernormal conduction in the right bundle branch: lack of influence of autonomic blockade

A programmed atrial stimulation at a driving rate of 100/min was performed in a 47-year-old woman with left bundle branch block. Supernormal conduction lasting 40 ms was revealed within the right bundle branch. After autonomic blockade (0.2 mg propranolol/kg body weight and 0.04 mg atropine/kg body weight) the position and duration of the supernormal conduction did not change. This suggests that the autonomic nervous system has no influence on the supernormal phase of conduction in the human intraventricular conduction system.