Dynamic adjustments in DiFrancesco-Noble membrane kinetics during 2D reentrant propagation

The DiFrancesco-Noble membrane model was used to investigate the spatio-temporal dynamics of spiral wave reentry. Two dimensional reentry was established in a 1 cm/sup 2/ region with elevated resistive properties without the onset of triggered waves or breakup. The time-course at sites near and far from the spiral core exhibited oscillations in magnitude, duration and diastolic take-off potentials with each cycle. The results suggest that due to their restitution characteristics, realistic membrane models may give rise to stable spiral reentry with small excitable gaps.