© 2002 by European Society of Cardiology
Copyright © 2002, European Society of Cardiology
Tissue structure and connexin expression of canine pulmonary veins
Krannert Institute of Cardiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Methodist Hospital, Noyes Pavilion, Rm E410, 1800 North Capitol Av., Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-317-962-0101; fax: +1-317-962-0100 jolgin{at}iupui.edu
Objective: Rapid electrical activity in pulmonary veins (PVs) has been proposed as a mechanism for focal atrial fibrillation. The way in which the myocardial sleeve inside PVs can form a substrate for focal activity is not well understood. Therefore, we have studied tissue structure and connexin distribution at the veno-atrial transition in the dog. Methods: In adult mongrel dogs, the anatomy of the PV area was studied. Tissue structure in individual veins was assessed in formalin fixed sections using Masson's Trichrome staining. Gap junction protein distribution was examined using antibodies against connexin40 (Cx40) and connexin43 (Cx43). The ultrastructure of myocytes in myocardial sleeves was studied using electron microscopy. Results: Individual PVs in the dog had a gross morphology similar to that observed in the human, with myocardial sleeves extending into the veins for 4–20 mm. In all veins examined, myocytes in myocardial sleeves had a normal atrial morphology and anti-desmin staining pattern. Cx43 was expressed throughout the sleeve at levels comparable to normal atrial myocardium. By contrast, Cx40 expression was lower in myocardial sleeves than in the rest of the left atrium. Myocytes in the sleeve, which were ultrastructurally similar to normal atrial myocytes, were predominantly organized in a circumferential pattern. Conclusions: PVs in the dog and various canine models of heart disease will be a suitable model for (patho)physiology of the veno-atrial transition. Myocytes in myocardial sleeves are similar to normal atrial myocytes. The circumferential orientation of these myocytes may provide a substrate for rapid circular reentry.
KEYWORDS Electron microscopy; Gap junctions; Histo(patho)logy; Supraventr. arrhythmia; Veins
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  S.-M. Chaldoupi, P. Loh, R. N.W. Hauer, J. M.T. de Bakker, and H. V.M. van Rijen The role of connexin40 in atrial fibrillation Cardiovasc Res, October 1, 2009; 84(1): 15 - 23. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 N. Doisne, V. Maupoil, P. Cosnay, and I. Findlay Catecholaminergic automatic activity in the rat pulmonary vein: electrophysiological differences between cardiac muscle in the left atrium and pulmonary vein Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, July 1, 2009; 297(1): H102 - H108. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. A. Jones, M. Yamamoto, J. O. Tellez, R. Billeter, M. R. Boyett, H. Honjo, and M. K. Lancaster Distinguishing Properties of Cells From the Myocardial Sleeves of the Pulmonary Veins: A Comparison of Normal and Abnormal Pacemakers Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol, April 1, 2008; 1(1): 39 - 48. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. K. Voeller, R. B. Schuessler, and R. J. Damiano Jr. Surgical Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation Card. Surg. Adult, January 1, 2008; 3(2008): 1375 - 1394. [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. T.M. Mommersteeg, N. A. Brown, O. W.J. Prall, C. de Gier-de Vries, R. P. Harvey, A. F.M. Moorman, and V. M. Christoffels Pitx2c and Nkx2-5 Are Required for the Formation and Identity of the Pulmonary Myocardium Circ. Res., October 26, 2007; 101(9): 902 - 909. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Arora, J. Ng, J. Ulphani, I. Mylonas, H. Subacius, G. Shade, D. Gordon, A. Morris, X. He, Y. Lu, et al. Unique Autonomic Profile of the Pulmonary Veins and Posterior Left Atrium J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., March 27, 2007; 49(12): 1340 - 1348. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Coutu, D. Chartier, and S. Nattel Comparison of Ca2+-handling properties of canine pulmonary vein and left atrial cardiomyocytes Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, November 1, 2006; 291(5): H2290 - H2300. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. W. Lee, T. H. Everett IV, D. Rahmutula, J. M. Guerra, E. Wilson, C. Ding, and J. E. Olgin Pirfenidone Prevents the Development of a Vulnerable Substrate for Atrial Fibrillation in a Canine Model of Heart Failure Circulation, October 17, 2006; 114(16): 1703 - 1712. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. M. Guerra, T. H. Everett IV, K. W. Lee, E. Wilson, and J. E. Olgin Effects of the Gap Junction Modifier Rotigaptide (ZP123) on Atrial Conduction and Vulnerability to Atrial Fibrillation Circulation, July 11, 2006; 114(2): 110 - 118. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Bagwe, O. Berenfeld, D. Vaidya, G. E. Morley, and J. Jalife Altered Right Atrial Excitation and Propagation in Connexin40 Knockout Mice Circulation, October 11, 2005; 112(15): 2245 - 2253. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. S. Po, Y. Li, D. Tang, H. Liu, N. Geng, W. M. Jackman, B. Scherlag, R. Lazzara, and E. Patterson Rapid and Stable Re-Entry Within the Pulmonary Vein as a Mechanism Initiating Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., June 7, 2005; 45(11): 1871 - 1877. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
H.-R. Neuberger, U. Schotten, S. Verheule, S. Eijsbouts, Y. Blaauw, A. van Hunnik, and M. Allessie Development of a Substrate of Atrial Fibrillation During Chronic Atrioventricular Block in the Goat Circulation, January 4, 2005; 111(1): 30 - 37. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Melnyk, J. R. Ehrlich, M. Pourrier, L. Villeneuve, T.-J. Cha, and S. Nattel Comparison of ion channel distribution and expression in cardiomyocytes of canine pulmonary veins versus left atrium Cardiovasc Res, January 1, 2005; 65(1): 104 - 116. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. T. Soufan, M. J.B. van den Hoff, J. M. Ruijter, P. A.J. de Boer, J. Hagoort, S. Webb, R. H. Anderson, and A. F.M. Moorman Reconstruction of the Patterns of Gene Expression in the Developing Mouse Heart Reveals an Architectural Arrangement That Facilitates the Understanding of Atrial Malformations and Arrhythmias Circ. Res., December 10, 2004; 95(12): 1207 - 1215. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Khan Identifying and understanding the role of pulmonary vein activity in atrial fibrillation Cardiovasc Res, December 1, 2004; 64(3): 387 - 394. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. R Ehrlich, T.-J. Cha, L. Zhang, D. Chartier, P. Melnyk, S. H Hohnloser, and S. Nattel Cellular electrophysiology of canine pulmonary vein cardiomyocytes: action potential and ionic current properties J. Physiol., September 15, 2003; 551(3): 801 - 813. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Arora, S. Verheule, L. Scott, A. Navarrete, V. Katari, E. Wilson, D. Vaz, and J. E. Olgin Arrhythmogenic Substrate of the Pulmonary Veins Assessed by High-Resolution Optical Mapping Circulation, April 8, 2003; 107(13): 1816 - 1821. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. R Kwak, D. C Shah, and F. Mach A starting point for structure function relationships in the canine pulmonary veins Cardiovasc Res, September 1, 2002; 55(4): 703 - 705. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|