Optical Mapping of Tachycardia-Like Excitation Evoked by Pacing in the Isolated Rat Atrium

Abstract

Multiple-site optical recording of membrane potential activity using a voltage-sensitive dye was employed to monitor action potentials in the rat atrium. Electrical pacing at 1 Hz evoked the events of tachycardia-like excitation (TE). Optical mapping revealed that a coupling of spontaneous and evoked action potentials resulted in the initiation of TE.