Microsecond pulsed electric fields induce myocardial ablation by damaging mitochondria

Catheter ablation is an effective treatment to prevent recurrence of Atrial fibrillation (AF) and can be used to maintain sinus rhythm and improve symptoms of AF, but to some extent it can cause a range of adverse effects associated with catheter ablation. Pulsed electric field is a newer treatment modality to replace catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation due to its fewer side effects. Different from radiofrequency ablation, which destroys diseased myocardial tissue by thermal energy, pulsed electric field ablation achieves the purpose of atrial fibrillation ablation by inducing damage to diseased myocardial cells through irreversible electroporation. However, some experimental parameters and mechanism of pulsed electric fields remain unclear. we analyzed the effects of microsecond pulsed electric field on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and cardiac activity in vitro and in vivo, and explored its mechanism by transcriptome study.