Modeling of the influence of gap-junction coupling on synchronization of central and peripheral sinoatrial node cells

Mathematical modeling of the electric activity of pairs of true (central) and latent (peripheral) sinoatrial pacemaker cells coupled through gap junctions revealed that attenuation of coupling conductance increases the beat phase shift; below a critical conductance there is no synchronization. The phase difference also depends on the type of interacting cells, being maximal for a “central”-“peripheral” cell pair.