The pacemaking and conduction system (PCS) is vital for generating and synchronizing the heart beat. Dysfunction of this system can be a direct cause of cardiac conduction disturbance, arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. A wealth of information has been collected over many years on the unique histological, morphological and phenotypic characteristics of specialized cardiac tissues. The cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern development of the PCS are now starting to be understood.This book draws together contributions from an international and interdisciplinary group of experts working on both basic and clinical aspects of cardiac development. It features reviews of the structure and function of the developing PCS, discussion of the molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating embryological development of this system and studies on the fundamental basis of PCS pathology. The book also considers how novel therapeutic interventions based on understanding of the developmental biology of cardiac pacemaking and conduction tissues might ultimately impact on clinical medicine.
Author(s): Novartis Foundation
Edition: 1
Year: 2003
Language: English
Pages: 300
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CARDIAC CONDUCTION SYSTEM......Page 3
Contents......Page 7
Participants......Page 9
Chair’s introduction......Page 13
The morphology of the cardiac conduction system......Page 18
Discussion......Page 30
Development of the cardiac conduction system: a matter of chamber development......Page 37
Discussion......Page 46
Mouse models for cardiac conduction system development......Page 56
Discussion......Page 71
Developmental transitions in cardiac conduction......Page 80
Discussion......Page 88
Gap junctional connexins in developing mouse cardiac conduction system......Page 92
Discussion......Page 110
His–Purkinje lineages and development......Page 122
Discussion......Page 134
The role of neural crest and epicardium-derived cells in conduction system formation......Page 137
Discussion......Page 146
Induction and patterning of the Purkinje fibre network......Page 154
Discussion......Page 165
The oldest, toughest cells in the heart......Page 169
Discussion......Page 186
Transcriptional regulation in the mouse atrioventricular conduction system......Page 189
Discussion......Page 201
Patterning of the mouse conduction system......Page 206
Discussion......Page 217
Clinical pathology of the cardiac conduction system......Page 222
Discussion......Page 233
Cardiac conduction and arrhythmia: insights from Nkx2.5 mutations in mouse and humans......Page 239
Discussion......Page 250
The genetic origin of atrioventricular conduction disturbance in humans......Page 254
Discussion......Page 264
Defects in cardiac conduction system lineages and malignant arrhythmias: developmental pathways and disease......Page 272
Discussion......Page 283
Final general discussion......Page 288
Index of contributors......Page 292
Subject index......Page 294
