Dynamics of circus movement re-entry across canine Purkinje fibre-muscle junctions

1. To determine the cellular electrophysiological mechanisms for unidirectional conduction block and re-entrant excitation, single cycles of circus movement re-entry were induced in canine Purkinje fibre-papillary muscle preparations containing two Purkinje fibre-muscle junctions (PMJs). The preparations were mounted in a partitioned tissue bath that permitted independent superfusion of each PMJ. The pre-existing dispersion of refractoriness between PMJs was accentuated by superfusing PMJ1 with normal Tyrode solution or Tyrode solution containing 6-8 mM KCl and superfusing PMJ2 with Tyrode solution containing 0.5 mM heptanol and 4-10 mM KCl. 2. Premature stimuli delivered to the Purkinje fibre induced unidirectional anterograde conduction block at PMJ2. Conduction proceeded from Purkinje cells to papillary muscle at PMJ1 and from papillary muscle retrogradely across the previously blocked PMJ2. 3. The difference in refractory periods between the two PMJs defined a range of premature coupling intervals within which re-entry was inducible. Conduction block at the PMJ occurred in papillary muscle at short coupling intervals and in the Purkinje fibre at longer intervals. 4. Once initiated, re-entry could be reset or annihilated by properly timed subthreshold current pulses delivered to cells at the PMJ. 5. To define better the mechanisms for conduction block and re-entry, an analytical model was developed using non-linear regression analysis to derive equations from the experimental results. Varying parameters within the constraints of the model reproduced the key features of the rate-dependent conduction block observed experimentally. Critical elements of the model included the induction of significant activation delays at short diastolic intervals and a reduction in the rate of action potential duration restitution after exposure to heptanol. 6. These results help to establish the conditions necessary for induction of one-dimensional circus movement re-entry and to define the roles of non-linearities of activation delay and excitability in the dynamics of conduction block at the PMJ.