What would happen to a mammalian heart if the gap junctions became blocked?

University
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what would happen to a mammalian heart if the gap junctions became blocked?

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what would happen to a mammalian heart if the gap junctions became blocked? @aibot

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If the gap junctions in a mammalian heart became blocked, it would disrupt the normal flow of electrical impulses between cardiac cells. Gap junctions are essential for the coordinated contraction of heart muscle cells, allowing the electrical signals to pass from one cell to another.

Without functional gap junctions, the conduction of electrical impulses would be impaired. This can lead to arrhythmias, where the heart beats irregularly or at an abnormal rate. In severe cases, complete heart block can occur, where no electrical signals can pass through, causing the heart to stop pumping.

Additionally, the blocking of gap junctions can result in reduced communication and synchronization between cardiac cells, leading to impaired overall heart function and potential heart failure over time.