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Veterinary research communications2021; 45(4); 319-327; doi: 10.1007/s11259-021-09812-4

Morphometric analysis of the His bundle (atrioventricular fascicle) in humans and other animal species. Histological and immunohistochemical study.

Abstract: The His bundle is a part of the specialized electrical conduction system that provides a connection between the atrial and ventricular myocardial compartments in both normal and abnormal hearts. The aim of this study was to perform a morphometric analysis of His bundle characteristics of in humans, dogs, horses and pigs and compare them in these studied species. Histological sections of 5 μm thickness were obtained and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome; the desmin and periodic acid-Schiff methods were also used for precise identification of cells. The His bundle was found to be longer in horses (2.85 ± 1.02 mm) and pigs (1.77 ± 0.9 mm) than in dogs (1.53 ± 0.8 mm) or humans, in which it was shortest (1.06 ± 0.6 mm). The area and diameters in His bundle cells, were significantly larger in pigs and horses than in humans (p < 0.001) or dogs (p < 0.001). We found two organizational patterns of His bundle components: group I, with large cells and a high amount of collagen fibers in ungulates (pigs and horses); and group II, with smaller cells and lower abundance of collagen fibers in humans and dogs. Documenting cell size variations in the His bundle allows us not only to identify this bundle by histological or anatomical location but also to differentiate these cells from others such as nodal or Purkinje cells. Our analysis revealed that His bundle cells have discrete identities based on their morphometric and histological characteristics.
© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.
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Publication Date: 2021-07-10 PubMed ID: 34244914PubMed Central: 4498054DOI: 10.1007/s11259-021-09812-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study investigated the structure and characteristics of the His bundle, a part of the heart’s electrical conduction system, across humans, dogs, horses, and pigs. The researchers found that His bundle cells vary in size and formation across these species.

Morphometric analysis of His Bundle

  • The study aimed to perform a morphometric analysis, measuring structures and analyzing shapes, of His Bundle in humans, dogs, horses, and pigs. The His Bundle’s function is to electrically connect the top and bottom parts of the heart.
  • To achieve this, the authors analyzed histological sections that were 5 micrometers thick. They stained the sections with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson’s trichrome to highlight certain structures and used the desmin and periodic acid-Schiff methods to identify specific cells.

Comparative Study Across Multiple Species

  • The main findings showed that the His bundle is longer in horses and pigs than in dogs or humans, with the shortest identified in humans.
  • The area and diameters of His bundle cells were also larger in pigs and horses than in humans or dogs, which was a significant difference.

Types of His Bundle Patterns

  • The researchers identified two organizational patterns of His bundle. The first group (Group I) was found in ungulates (pigs and horses), which displayed large cells and a high amount of collagen fibers.
  • The second group (Group II) was identified in humans and dogs and was characterized by smaller cells and a lower abundance of collagen fibers.

Identification and Differentiation of His Bundle

  • The variations in the cell sizes of the His bundle can help in its identification and differentiation from other cells like the nodal or Purkinje cells – it’s not just about location, but also their unique structural characteristics.
  • The study hence reveals that His bundle cells have discrete identities based on their morphometric and histological characteristics differing across multiple species.

Cite This Article

APA
Gómez-Torres F, Ruíz-Sauri A. (2021). Morphometric analysis of the His bundle (atrioventricular fascicle) in humans and other animal species. Histological and immunohistochemical study. Vet Res Commun, 45(4), 319-327. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-021-09812-4

Publication

Veterinary research communications
ISSN: 1573-7446
NlmUniqueID: 8100520
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 45
Issue: 4
Pages: 319-327

Researcher Affiliations

Gómez-Torres, Fabián
  • Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Valencia, 1st floor, Av. de Blasco Ibáñez, 15, 46010, Valencia, Spain.
  • Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Cra, 32 # 29-31, 68002, Bucaramanga, Colombia.
Ruíz-Sauri, Amparo
  • Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Valencia, 1st floor, Av. de Blasco Ibáñez, 15, 46010, Valencia, Spain. Amparo.Ruiz-Sauri@uv.es.
  • INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Av. de Blasco Ibáñez, 17, 46010, Valencia, Spain. Amparo.Ruiz-Sauri@uv.es.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Atrial Function / physiology
  • Bundle of His / physiology
  • Dogs / physiology
  • Horses / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Sus scrofa / physiology
  • Ventricular Function / physiology

Grant Funding

  • PI14/00271 / Instituto de Salud Carlos III
  • pie15/00013 / Federaciu00f3n Espau00f1ola de Enfermedades Raras
  • PROMETEO2013/007 / Conselleria d'Educaciu00f3, Investigaciu00f3, Cultura i Esport

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Avison A, Physick-Sheard PW, Pyle WG. Performance horses as a model for exercise-associated cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. J Mol Cell Cardiol Plus 2025 Jun;12:100452.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jmccpl.2025.100452pubmed: 40475708google scholar: lookup
  2. Gómez-Torres F, Ballesteros-Acuña L, Ruíz-Sauri A. Histopathological changes in the electrical conduction of cardiac nodes after acute myocardial infarction in dogs and horses, compared with findings in humans: A histological, morphometrical, and immunohistochemical study. Vet World 2023 Oct;16(10):2173-2185.
    doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.2173-2185pubmed: 38023272google scholar: lookup
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