The role of fibroblasts in the induction of conductance disturbances and arrhythmia has received an increasing amount of attention in recent years. Research into the interactions between fibroblasts and myocytes shows that conduction velocity (CV) can be both accelerated and slowed depending on the density, coupling, and electrical properties of the fibroblasts. In the present issue of Heart Rhythm, Xie et al unravel further complexities in the consequences of mixing fibroblasts and myocytes using computer modeling. The study explores not only the effect of density and degree of coupling of fibroblasts but also the effect of different spatial geometries of fibroblast localization. Using this approach, Xie et al1 demonstrate that different configurations affect conduction velocity differently and furthermore that certain configurations are more prone to induction of arrhythmia than expected on the basis of changes in CV alone.
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