Cardioelectric field on the body surface of Wistar rats during ventricular depolarization in aging

The spatial and amplitude-temporal parameters of cardiac electric field on the body surface was studied in 4-, 12-, 18-month Wistar rats during ventricular depolarization by the method of electrocardiotopography. Cardioelectric poten- tials were recorded from 64 subcutaneous needle electrodes uniformly distri- buted around the chest. It is shown, that systolic pressure in rats from four to eighteen months of postnatal life is increased. Histological research revealed left ventricular hypertrophy in 12-month and hypertrophy of both ventricles in 18- month rats in comparison with 4-month animals. The hypertrophy of the right and left ventricles in 18-month Wistar rats leads to the shift of the heart elec- trical axis, change of location of the negative extremum on the body surface during maximal ventricular activity, longer duration of ventricular depolariza- tion compared to 4-, 12-month rats. The structural and electrical remodeling of the myocardium in aging 12- and 18-month rats results in the change of the am- plitude-temporal parameters of the cardiac electric field on the body surface dur- ing depolarization in comparison with 4-month animals.