Effects of Low-Level Autonomic Stimulation on Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation Induced by Acute Electrical Remodeling

• Main Authors: Yubi Lin, Ning Bian, Hairui Li, Jia Chen, Huijie Xing, Hong Li, Dandan Huang, Xianwu Lan, Bojun Gong, Li Zhou, Ruijie Liu, Min Guan, Dongdong Zhang, Gang Du, Zhengyi Huang, Xiaoming Chen, Tao Zhang, Jianyi Feng, Shaorong Wu, Liwei Wang, Aidong Zhang, Zicheng Li
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2013-01-01
• Series: The Scientific World Journal
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/781084

Background. Rapid atrial pacing (RAP) can induce electrical and autonomic remodeling and facilitate atrial fibrillation (AF). Recent reports showed that low-level vagosympathetic nerve stimulation (LLVNS) can suppress AF, as an antiarrhythmic effect. We hypothesized that LLVNS can reverse substrate heterogeneity induced by RAP. Methods and Results. Mongrel dogs were divided into (LLVNS+RAP) and RAP groups. Electrode catheters were sutured to multiple atrial sites, and LLVNS was applied to cervical vagosympathetic trunks with voltage 50% below the threshold slowing sinus rate by ⩽30 msec. RAP induced a significant decrease in effective refractory period (ERP) and increase in the window of vulnerability at all sites, characterized by descending and elevated gradient differences towards the ganglionic plexi (GP) sites, respectively. The ERP dispersion was obviously enlarged by RAP and more significant when the ERP of GP-related sites was considered. Recovery time from AF was also prolonged significantly as a result of RAP. LLVNS could reverse all these changes induced by RAP and recover the heterogeneous substrate to baseline. Conclusions. LLVNS can reverse the electrical and autonomic remodeling and abolish the GP-central gradient differences induced by RAP, and thus it can recover the homogeneous substrate, which may be the underlying mechanism of its antiarrhythmic effect.