A mathematical model for electrical stimulation of a monolayer of cardiac cells

Background The goal of our study is to examine the effect of stimulating a two-dimensional sheet of myocardial cells. We assume that the stimulating electrode is located in a bath perfusing the tissue.Methods An equation governing the transmembrane potential, based on the continuity equation and Ohm's law, is solved numerically using a finite difference technique.Results The sheet is depolarized under the stimulating electrode and is hyperpolarized on each side of the electrode along the fiber axis.Conclusions The results are similar to those obtained previously by Sepulveda et al. (Biophys J, 55: 987-999, 1989) for stimulation of a two-dimensional sheet of tissue with no perfusing bath present.