Electrophysiological Characterization of Sodium Currents in Adult Rat Cardiac Myocytes
Journal: QSpace (Queen's University Library)
Year: 2010

ii CO-AUTHORSHIP iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v TABLE OF CONTENTS vii LIST OF FIGURES ix LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS x CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION & LITERATURE REVIEW 1 Atrial Fibrillation 1 Basic Mechanisms of Arrhythmia: Ectopic Beats and Re-entry 2 Atrial Dysfunction during Atrial Fibrillation 6 Ionic Basis of Atrial Fibrilation 8 The Voltage-Gated Na + Channel 10 Na + Channel Dysfunction in Atrial Fibrillation 15 Pharmacological Blockade of Na + Channels 17 Tetrodotoxin 19 Lidocaine 20 Oxidative Stress as a Po