Mathematical Models of Human Sinus and Atrioventricular Node Action Potentials

There are few models of the human cardiac action potential, because it is difficult to obtain human heart for electrophysiological study. In this study, we have developed action potential models for human sinus node and atrioventricular junction based on the expression of ion channel messenger RNAs (mRNAs). The computed action potentials for the seven regions had feasible characteristics and shapes. Although function is not necessarily linearly related to mRNA abundance, we suggest this technique is a new form of bioinformatics to explore the consequences of a change in ion channel expression, e.g. in aged or diseased heart. 1