Experimental studies on cardiac arrhythmias with special reference to fibrillation in heart cell culture.

Abstract

Fibrillation-like beating of cardiac muscle cells in culture was induced by altering the concentrations of various ions. Fine structural changes of cell membrane and intercellular alteration of cardiac muscle cells appeared to be more prominent in cells with fibrilliation-like beating than in others. From the results of the present study, it may be concluded that fibrillation-like beating may occur in the presence of altered concentrations of certain ions, accompanied by fine structural changes in the cells.