Arrhythmogenesis after acute myocardial necrosis with and without preceding ischemia in rats

Theofilos M. Kolettis; Marianthi Kontonika; Mesele-Christina Valenti; Agapi D. Vilaeti; Giannis G. Baltogiannis; Apostolos Papalois; Zenon S. Kyriakides

doi:10.1515/jbcpp-2013-0117

Article

Arrhythmogenesis after acute myocardial necrosis with and without preceding ischemia in rats

Theofilos M. Kolettis , Marianthi Kontonika , Mesele-Christina Valenti , Agapi D. Vilaeti , Giannis G. Baltogiannis , Apostolos Papalois and Zenon S. Kyriakides

Published/Copyright: October 11, 2013

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From the journal Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology Volume 25 Issue 2

Abstract

Background: The relative role of acute myocardial ischemia and infarction in ventricular arrhythmogenesis is incompletely understood. We compared the arrhythmia pattern after ischemia/infarction to that observed after direct myocardial necrosis without preceding ischemia in rats.

Methods: Coagulation necrosis was induced in Wistar rats (n=20, 280±3 g) by radiofrequency current application (for 15 s) from a 4-mm-tip ablation catheter. Myocardial infarction was induced by coronary artery ligation with (n=10) or without (n=10) reperfusion. Using 24-h telemetry recording, we examined ventricular arrhythmias, voluntary motor activity and indices of sympathetic activation.

Results: The coagulation-necrosis volume was 24.4%±0.6%, comparable to the infarct size in the absence of reperfusion. Acute left ventricular failure and sympathetic activation were similar in the three groups. Coagulation necrosis induced ventricular fibrillation immediately, followed by a second peak after ∼1 h. Reperfusion decreased ventricular arrhythmias, whereas a second arrhythmogenic period (between the third and the eight hour) was noted in non-reperfused infarcts (mainly monomorphic ventricular tachycardia).

Conclusions: Distinct arrhythmia patterns occur after myocardial infarction (with or without reperfusion) and after direct necrosis. They are not produced by differences in sympathetic activation and are likely related to the evolution of myocardial injury. The necrosis rat model may be useful in studies of arrhythmogenesis.

Keywords: infarction; myocardial ischemia; necrosis; sympathetic activation; ventricular fibrillation; ventricular tachycardia

Corresponding author: Theofilos M. Kolettis, MD, PhD, Professor in Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, University of Ioannina, 1 Stavrou Niarxou Avenue, 45110 Ioannina, Greece, Phone: +30-265-1007227, Fax: +30-265-1007053, E-mail: thkolet@cc.uoi.gr

Acknowledgments

We thank Athanasios Trevlas, national representative of Osypka SA, for providing technical support. The invaluable help of Eleftheria Karambela, RN, during the experiments is acknowledged. Eleni Goga, MSc, and Anais Ghiatas, MSc, coordinated this research.

Conflict of interest statement

Authors’ conflict of interest disclosure: The authors stated that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article. Research funding played no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the report for publication.

Research funding: Marianthi Kontonika, MD, was supported by a grant from the Cardiovascular Research Institute. Mesele Valenti, MSc, and Agapi D. Vilaeti, MD, were supported by a scholarship from the Experimental Research Center ELPEN.

Employment or leadership: None declared.

Honorarium: None declared.

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Received: 2013-8-5

Accepted: 2013-9-4

Published Online: 2013-10-11

Published in Print: 2014-5-1

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jbcpp-2013-0117

Keywords for this article

infarction; myocardial ischemia; necrosis; sympathetic activation; ventricular fibrillation; ventricular tachycardia