A mathematical model for electrical stimulation of a monolayer of cardiac cells

Ranjini Srinivasan and Bradley J Roth

Department of Physics, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan 48309 USA

Background

The goal of our study is to examine the effect of stimulating a two-dimensional sheet of myocardial cells. We assume that the stimulating electrode is located in a bath perfusing the tissue.

Methods

An equation governing the transmembrane potential, based on the continuity equation and Ohm’s law, is solved numerically using a finite difference technique.

Results

The sheet is depolarized under the stimulating electrode and is hyperpolarized on each side of the electrode along the fiber axis.

Conclusions

The results are similar to those obtained previously by Sepulveda et al. (Biophys J, 55: 987–999, 1989) for stimulation of a two-dimensional sheet of tissue with no perfusing bath present.

BioMedical Engineering OnLine 2004, 3:1. This is an Open Access article: verbatim copying and redistribution of this article are permitted in all media for any purpose, provided this notice is preserved along with the article’s original URL.