In silico modelling and analysis of the electrical and mechanical properties of in vitro cardiac cultures with different fiber architectures

Simulating the effects of growth and fiber dispersion on the electromechanical response of a cardiac ventricular wedge affected from concentric hypertrophy

In this paper, we analyze the epicardial electromechanical response of an in silico cardiac ventricular wedge under both healthy and concentric hypertrophic conditions. This is achieved by taking into account the growth of the wedge thickness and the fiber dispersion that may follow. The electromechanical response is described in terms of some macroscopic measures, i.e. the action potential duration, the conduction velocity, the contractility and the contraction force. Our results suggest that growth reduces the action potential duration and conduction velocity, whilst it increases the contractility and contraction force, yielding an overall negative effect. In presence of fiber dispersion, the action potential duration and conduction velocity are not affected further, whilst the effect on the contractility and contraction force is enhanced.