Emulation of conduction system functions in the hearts of early mammalian embryos.

The conduction system functions of atrioventricular sequential contractions, atrioventricular delay, and coordination of ventricular contraction were examined in rat embryos at the earliest functional stage of cardiac development (before cardiac looping, n = 6) and shortly after looping (n = 15). Atrioventricular sequential contractions were observed in all embryos, and contractions appeared to originate in the left sinus horn. Atrioventricular delay was present in both prelooped (132 +/- 32 ms) and looped (141 +/- 15 ms) hearts. Before looping, contractions traveled from proximal ventricle to bulbus cordis, a distance of 253 +/- 27 microns, in 72 +/- 22 ms. After looping, contractions crossed an increased intraventricular distance (520 +/- 28 microns, p less than 0.005) in substantially less time (16 +/- 7 ms, p less than 0.005). Sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodal functions are emulated in both prelooped and looped hearts of early mammalian embryos, and His-Purkinje system function is emulated in looped hearts.