Functional, Anatomical, and Molecular Investigation of the Cardiac Conduction System and Arrhythmogenic Atrioventricular Ring Tissue in the Rat Heart

Abstract

The AV rings and retroaortic node possess gene expression profiles similar to that of the AV node. Ion channel expression and electrophysiological recordings show the AV rings could act as ectopic pacemakers and a source of atrial tachycardia.