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Role of intermediate-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels in atrial fibrillation in canines with rapid atrial pacing

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Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to explore the role of intermediate-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SK4) in atrial fibrillation (AF) inducibility in canines with rapid atrial pacing.

Methods

Eighteen dogs were divided into the control group, the pacing group and the stellate ganglion ablation (SGA) + pacing group. In the pacing group, dogs were subjected to rapid atrial pacing, and the atrial effective refractory period (AERP) and AF inducibility were measured. After cessation of 7-h pacing, SK4 inhibitor (TRAM-34) was administered. After SGA, the SGA + pacing group received the same procedure of pacing and electrophysiological measurement as the pacing group. The expression of SK4 was measured in the left atrium (LA) and the right atrium (RA) in the three groups.

Results

The duration of the AERP decreased, while the number of AF episodes, the duration of induced AF, and the amplitude of stellate ganglion neural activity all increased after rapid atrial pacing. TRAM-34 completely inhibited AF induction in the pacing group. There was no significant difference in AERP shortening or AF vulnerability between the SGA + pacing group and the control group. The expression of SK4 in the LA and RA was higher in the pacing group than in the control and SGA + pacing groups. However, there was no significant difference in the expression of SK4 in the LA or the RA between the SGA + pacing group and the control group.

Conclusion

The higher expression of SK4 plays an important role in AF induction and the increased expression of SK4 in the atrium is related to SG activity during rapid atrial pacing.

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Funding

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no.81670303 and no.81970277 to QY Zhao).

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Author notes

  1. Mei Yang, Youcheng Wang and Hongyi Zhao contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuchang, Wuhan, 430060, People’s Republic of China

    Mei Yang, Youcheng Wang, Hongyi Zhao, Junkui Yin, Liuliu Zi, Xi Wang, Yanhong Tang, Congxin Huang & Qingyan Zhao

  2. Cardiovascular Research Institute of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuchang, Wuhan, 430060, People’s Republic of China

    Mei Yang, Youcheng Wang, Hongyi Zhao, Junkui Yin, Liuliu Zi, Xi Wang, Yanhong Tang, Congxin Huang & Qingyan Zhao

  3. Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuchang, Wuhan, 430060, People’s Republic of China

    Mei Yang, Youcheng Wang, Hongyi Zhao, Junkui Yin, Liuliu Zi, Xi Wang, Yanhong Tang, Congxin Huang & Qingyan Zhao

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  1. Mei Yang
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Correspondence to Congxin Huang or Qingyan Zhao.

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Yang, M., Wang, Y., Zhao, H. et al. Role of intermediate-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels in atrial fibrillation in canines with rapid atrial pacing. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 60, 247–253 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-020-00736-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-020-00736-8

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