Understanding conduction of electrical impulses in the mouse heart using high-resolution video imaging technology

The conduction of electrical impulses in the heart depends on the ability t o efficiently transfer excitatory current between individual myocytes. Seve ral recent studies have focused on the use of optical mapping techniques to determine the electrophysiological consequences and the proarrhythmic effe cts of reducing intercellular coupling in newly developed connexin knockout mice. This work has begun to unravel important questions regarding the rol e of connexins in intercellular coupling and propagation of electrical impu lses in the heart. The purpose of this review is to discuss the techniques and unique issues involved in imaging electrical wave propagation in the he art. In addition, we will review recent experimental studies that address t he role of intercellular communication in the development of cardiac arrhyt hmias. Microsc. Res. Tech. 52:241-250, 2001. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss. Inc.