Effects of activation sequence and anisotropic cellular geometry on the repolarization phase of action potential of dog ventricular muscles.

The influence of activation sequences on action potential configuration, especially in the repolarization phase, was examined in isolated canine ventricular muscles. Action potentials were recorded from the epicardial surface in the center of a preparation having nearly uniform fiber orientation (25 X 25 mm). Stimuli applied just adjacent to the recording site produced nearly centrifugal propagation. An activation sequence either parallel (longitudinal) or perpendicular (transverse) to the long axis of the muscle fibers was produced by peripheral stimulation. Action potential duration at -60 mV (APD-60 mV) during centrifugal propagation was significantly longer than that during longitudinal propagation. Further shortening of APD-60 mV was observed during transverse propagation. When a collision of longitudinal or transverse wavefronts (longitudinal or transverse collision) was produced at the action potential recording site, the shortest APD was recorded. During centrifugal propagation, action potential m...