The action potential of the Purkinje fiber: an in vitro model for evaluation of the proarrhythmic potential of cardiac and noncardiac drugs.

The proarrhythmic potential of new chemical entities can be investigated using in vitro electrophysiological techniques measuring the cardiac action potential in isolated Purkinje fibers. Different types of arrhythmias may occur as early afterdepolarizations (EADs), which are favored by action potential duration lengthening and bradycardia, or as delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs), which are facilitated by tachycardia. The effects of a test compound on the occurrence of these arrhythmias, thought to be responsible for the development of torsades de pointes in the clinic can be studied using the experimental protocols described in this unit.