Function of atrial preferential conduction routes under normal and abnormal conditions

The function of the atrial preferential conduction routes was examined by the microelectrode technique under normal and abnormal conditions in excised rabbit hearts. The sinus impulse during normal conditions traveled faster along the left and the right branch of the crista terminalis (anterior and posterior preferential routes, respectively) in the atrium toward the A-V node. Cutting of either route caused a delay of the impulse arrival in the zone beyond the lesion. The internodal conduction time was delayed 12 msec upon cutting of the posterior route, but there was no conduction delay after cutting the anterior route. This indicates that the posterior path is the dominant conduction route under normal conditions. When both routes were cut, the internodal conduction time was delayed 33 msec from the control value. During abnormal conditions, an ectopic pacemaker was found to occur mainly in the regions of two routes, as well as in the coronary sinus region. The cutting of either route, combined with the application of acetylcholine or high external K+, resulted in easier provocation of re-entrant arrhythmias in response to premature-stimuli than before the cutting.