Vet Res Commun. 2021 Dec;45(4):319-327. doi: 10.1007/s11259-021-09812-4. Epub 2021 Jul 10.

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

Veterinary research communications

Fabián Gómez-Torres, Amparo Ruíz-Sauri

PMID: 34244914 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-021-09812-4

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.

Keywords: Collagen fibers; Conduction system; His bundle; Morphometry

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Publication Types

• Journal Article

Grant support

• PI14/00271/Instituto de Salud Carlos III
• pie15/00013/Federación Española de Enfermedades Raras
• PROMETEO2013/007/Conselleria d'Educació, Investigació, Cultura i Esport