THE MONOPHASIC ACTION-POTENTIAL TECHNIQUE AND ITS APPLICATION IN CARDIAC ELECTROPHARMACOLOGY

Monophasic action potentials (MAPs) are a measure of electrical activi ty Of local myocardial cells recorded from the epicardial or endocardi al surfaces of the beating heart, in vivo, using a Positive pressure-c ontact electrode or electrode catheter. The MAP technique is a reliabl e and safe method for studying and detecting the cardiac electrophysio logical and electropharmacological activities and mechanisms in animal heart, and most importantly, in human hearts. In the present review w e discuss the monophasic action potential technique and its applicatio ns to electropharmacology, especially antiarrhythmic and antiischemic agents.