L-Type Calcium Channels Do Not Play a Critical Role in Chest Blow Induced Ventricular Fibrillation: Commotio Cordis

Figure 1

Impact of the chest wall marked increases left ventricular intracavitary pressure which in turn amplifies left ventricular wall strain and myocyte membrane stretch. This cell membrane deformation may activate stretch activated ion channels, which may in part cause the ventricular fibrillation in commotio cordis. In the left panel, a placebo animal, there is an increased influx of calcium due to stretch activation of the channel. If the channel is involved in commotio cordis, blockade of the channel (right panel) should reduce the ventricular fibrillation seen in our model.