Mathematics 2021

Anatomical model of rat ventricles to study cardiac arrhythmias under infarction injury 

Authors

In this study, a rat-specific computer model of the heart was developed aimed at studying a specific cardiac disorder: infarction injury. This disorder was chosen since it is the most common experimental system to investigate the effects of myocardial damage. We used a population modeling approach to create the mathematical model. This is a technique where you account for the variability in real cells and create a group of model parameters that could happen in real life. These are then checked against experimental measurements to select the best models. Once this mathematical model was developed, its relevance was checked with the use of realistic 3D modeling studies for which my code was used (developed during my PhD). Using an anatomically realistic ventricular geometry and fiber orientation in the rat heart, we built a model with a post-infarction scar to study the electrophysiological effects of myocardial damage. We studied the rotation of scroll waves and found that we can observe different types of dynamics: anchoring, self-termination or stable rotation of the scroll wave. The observed arrhythmia characteristics coincide with those measured in the experiment.

Figure: Electrical excitation waves traveling through the anatomical model of the rat ventricles.

 This model can be used to study heart rhythm disorders in rat hearts (with or without myocardial damage from ischemia reperfusion) and to examine the possible arrhythmogenic effects of various experimental interventions. 

Journal info

Article type:  Research article
Impact factor: 2.592
ISSN: 2227-7390 

Mathematics is an international, open access journal which provides an advanced forum for studies related to mathematical sciences. It devotes exclusively to the publication of high-quality reviews, regular research papers and short communications in all areas of pure and applied mathematics. Mathematics also publishes timely and thorough survey articles on current trends, new theoretical techniques, novel ideas and new mathematical tools in different branches of mathematics.