scholarly journals Optical recording of spontaneous action potentials from the congenital chick embryonic pre-contractile double-heart.

1984 ◽  
Vol 60 (7) ◽  
pp. 281-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akihiko HIROTA ◽  
Shiroh FUJII ◽  
Tetsuro SAKAI ◽  
Kohtaro KAMINO
Keyword(s):  
Action Potentials ◽  
Optical Recording ◽  
Spontaneous Action ◽  
Spontaneous Action Potentials

scholarly journals Functional pacemaking area in the early embryonic chick heart assessed by simultaneous multiple-site optical recording of spontaneous action potentials.

1988 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 573-591 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Kamino ◽  
H Komuro ◽  
T Sakai ◽  
A Hirota
Keyword(s):  
Action Potentials ◽  
Optical Recording ◽  
Measuring System ◽  
Embryonic Chick ◽  
Multiple Site ◽  
Optical Signals ◽  
Chick Heart ◽  
Embryonic Chick Heart ◽  
Spontaneous Action ◽  
Spontaneous Action Potentials

Pacemaking areas in the early embryonic chick hearts were quantitatively assessed using simultaneous multiple-site optical recordings of spontaneous action potentials. The measuring system with a 10- X 10- or a 12 X 12-element photodiode array had a spatial resolution of 15-30 microns. Spontaneous action potential-related optical signals were recorded simultaneously from multiple contiguous regions in the area in which the pacemaker site was located in seven- to nine-somite embryonic hearts stained with a voltage-sensitive merocyanine-rhodanine dye (NK 2761). In the seven- to early eight-somite embryonic hearts, the location of the pacemaking area is not uniquely determined, and as development proceeds to the nine-somite stage, the pacemaking area becomes confined to the left pre-atrial tissue. Analysis of the simultaneous multiple-site optical recordings showed that the pacemaking area was basically circular in shape in the later eight- to nine-somite embryonic hearts. An elliptical shape also was observed at the seven- to early eight-somite stages of development. The size of the pacemaking area was estimated to be approximately 1,200-3,000 micron2. We suggest that the pacemaking area is composed of approximately 60-150 cells, and that the pacemaking area remains at a relatively constant size throughout the seven- to nine-somite stages. It is thus proposed that a population of pacemaking cells, rather than a single cell, serves as a rhythm generator in the embryonic chick heart.

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