Electric field model for electric interactions between cells: an alternative mechanism for cell-to-cell propagation

An electric field model for electrical transmission of excitation between adjacent myocardial cells, without the necessity of low-resistance connections between the cells, is further developed. The voltage dependence of the membrane conductance is modeled using the Beeler-Reuter equations. A major assumption of the model is that the pre- and postjunctional membranes are excitable. Action potential propagation occurs along a chain of ten cells. The results show that the conduction velocity is influenced by K⁺ accumulation in the junctional clefts, and by total cell capacitance. Thus an electric field model based on closely apposed and excitable junctional membranes can account for propagation in cardiac muscle, and may apply under various physiological and pathophysiological conditions