The effects of prolonged period of high beating rates on iPS derived heart cells

The purpose of this project is to measure the effects of prolonged periods (4-5 days) of high heart rates on the electrical and mechanical properties of human heart cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. In adult humans, long periods of high heart rates (tachycardia) can induce a form of heart failure even if normal heart rate is restored. The heart cells enlarge and the contractility decreases as a result of the prolonged periods of tachycardia. The mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are poorly understood because of the lack of suitable experimental models. This project will investigate whether this form of cardiac dysfunction can be induced in a human heart cell line. If dysfunction is caused by this protocol, this model could be used to investigate cause and treatments for this condition.