Published online before print April 7, 2003, doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000062689.04037.3F
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Circulation. 2003;107:2051.)
© 2003 American Heart Association, Inc.
Basic Science Reports |
Reverse Structural and Gap-Junctional Remodeling After Prolonged Atrial Fibrillation in the Goat
From the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (J.A., M.-H.L., F.C.S.R., M.B., M.A.A.) and University Medical Center Utrecht (H.M.W.v.d.V., E.P.v.A., H.J.J.), the Netherlands.
Correspondence to J. Ausma, CARIM, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. E-mail jannie.ausma{at}fys.unimaas.nl
Background— Prolonged atrial fibrillation (AF) results in electrical, structural, and gap-junctional remodeling. We examined the reversibility of the changes in (ultra)structure and gap junctions.
Methods and Results— Four groups of goats were used: (1) sinus rhythm (SR), (2) 4 months’ AF (4 mo AF), (3) 2 months’ SR after 4 mo AF (2 mo post-AF), and (4) 4 months’ SR after 4 mo AF (4 mo post-AF). Atria were characterized electrophysiologically, (ultra)structure was studied by light and electron microscopy, and structural and gap-junctional protein expression was studied by immunohistochemistry or Western blotting. The atrial effective refractory period had completely returned to normal values 2 mo post-AF. Induced AF episodes still lasted for minutes at 2 and 4 mo post-AF, compared with seconds in the SR group. Structural abnormalities were still present at 2 and 4 mo post-AF, although to a lesser extent. The increased atrial myocyte diameter was back to normal at 4 mo post-AF. The number of myocytes with severe myolysis had almost normalized 4 mo post-AF, whereas myocytes with mild myolysis remained significantly increased. Extracellular matrix area fraction after 4 mo AF was similar to SR. However, the extracellular matrix fraction per myocyte had increased after 4 mo AF and remained higher post-AF. Changes in expression of structural proteins were partially restored post-AF. The reduction of connexin 40 that was observed during AF was completely reversed at 4 mo post-AF.
Conclusions— Recovery from structural remodeling after 4 mo AF is a slow process and is still incomplete 4 mo post-AF. Several months post-AF, the duration of AF episodes is still prolonged (minutes).
Key Words: atrium • fibrillation • structure • gap junctions • remodeling
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  K. Nishida, G. Michael, D. Dobrev, and S. Nattel Animal models for atrial fibrillation: clinical insights and scientific opportunities Europace, October 29, 2009; (2009) eup328v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S.-M. Chaldoupi, P. Loh, R. N.W. Hauer, J. M.T. de Bakker, and H. V.M. van Rijen The role of connexin40 in atrial fibrillation Cardiovasc Res, October 1, 2009; 84(1): 15 - 23. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. K. Stiles, B. John, C. X. Wong, P. Kuklik, A. G. Brooks, D. H. Lau, H. Dimitri, K. C. Roberts-Thomson, L. Wilson, P. De Sciscio, et al. Paroxysmal lone atrial fibrillation is associated with an abnormal atrial substrate characterizing the "second factor". J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., April 7, 2009; 53(14): 1182 - 1191. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. J. Severs, A. F. Bruce, E. Dupont, and S. Rothery Remodelling of gap junctions and connexin expression in diseased myocardium Cardiovasc Res, October 1, 2008; 80(1): 9 - 19. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. L. Serra and M. Bendersky Review: Atrial fibrillation and renin-angiotensin system Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease, June 1, 2008; 2(3): 215 - 223. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Burstein and S. Nattel Atrial Fibrosis: Mechanisms and Clinical Relevance in Atrial Fibrillation J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., February 26, 2008; 51(8): 802 - 809. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 H. Grubitzsch, A. Menes, D. Modersohn, and W. Konertz The Role of Atrial Remodeling for Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation Ann. Thorac. Surg., February 1, 2008; 85(2): 474 - 480. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Burstein, X.-Y. Qi, Y.-H. Yeh, A. Calderone, and S. Nattel Atrial cardiomyocyte tachycardia alters cardiac fibroblast function: A novel consideration in atrial remodeling Cardiovasc Res, December 1, 2007; 76(3): 442 - 452. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. W. Schrickel, K. Brixius, C. Herr, C. S. Clemen, P. Sasse, K. Reetz, C. Grohe, R. Meyer, K. Tiemann, R. Schroder, et al. Enhanced heterogeneity of myocardial conduction and severe cardiac electrical instability in annexin A7-deficient mice Cardiovasc Res, November 1, 2007; 76(2): 257 - 268. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. Ryu, L. Li, C. M. Khrestian, N. Matsumoto, J. Sahadevan, M. L. Ruehr, D. R. Van Wagoner, I. R. Efimov, and A. L. Waldo Effects of sterile pericarditis on connexins 40 and 43 in the atria: correlation with abnormal conduction and atrial arrhythmias Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, August 1, 2007; 293(2): H1231 - H1241. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. Beauchamp, K. A. Yamada, A. J. Baertschi, K. Green, E. M. Kanter, J. E. Saffitz, and A. G. Kleber Relative Contributions of Connexins 40 and 43 to Atrial Impulse Propagation in Synthetic Strands of Neonatal and Fetal Murine Cardiomyocytes Circ. Res., November 24, 2006; 99(11): 1216 - 1224. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Rucker-Martin, P. Milliez, S. Tan, X. Decrouy, M. Recouvreur, R. Vranckx, C. Delcayre, J.-F. Renaud, I. Dunia, D. Segretain, et al. Chronic hemodynamic overload of the atria is an important factor for gap junction remodeling in human and rat hearts Cardiovasc Res, October 1, 2006; 72(1): 69 - 79. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. E.W. Hemels, T. Van Noord, H. J.G.M. Crijns, D. J. Van Veldhuisen, N. J.G.M. Veeger, H. A. Bosker, A. C.P. Wiesfeld, M. P. Van den Berg, A. V. Ranchor, and I. C. Van Gelder Verapamil Versus Digoxin and Acute Versus Routine Serial Cardioversion for the Improvement of Rhythm Control for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., September 5, 2006; 48(5): 1001 - 1009. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Writing Committee Members, V. Fuster, L. E. Ryden, D. S. Cannom, H. J. Crijns, A. B. Curtis, K. A. Ellenbogen, J. L. Halperin, J.-Y. Le Heuzey, G. N. Kay, et al. ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 guidelines for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation: full text: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on practice guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the 2001 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation) Developed in collaboration with the European Heart Rhythm Association and the Heart Rhythm Society Europace, September 1, 2006; 8(9): 651 - 745. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
V. Fuster, L. E. Ryden, D. S. Cannom, H. J. Crijns, A. B. Curtis, K. A. Ellenbogen, J. L. Halperin, J.-Y. Le Heuzey, G. N. Kay, J. E. Lowe, et al. ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the 2001 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation) Developed in Collaboration With the European Heart Rhythm Association and the Heart Rhythm Society J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., August 15, 2006; 48(4): e149 - e246. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 V. Fuster, L. E. Ryden, D. S. Cannom, H. J. Crijns, A. B. Curtis, K. A. Ellenbogen, J. L. Halperin, J.-Y. Le Heuzey, G. N. Kay, J. E. Lowe, et al. ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the 2001 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation): Developed in Collaboration With the European Heart Rhythm Association and the Heart Rhythm Society Circulation, August 15, 2006; 114(7): e257 - e354. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. Gaborit, M. Steenman, G. Lamirault, N. Le Meur, S. Le Bouter, G. Lande, J. Leger, F. Charpentier, T. Christ, D. Dobrev, et al. Human Atrial Ion Channel and Transporter Subunit Gene-Expression Remodeling Associated With Valvular Heart Disease and Atrial Fibrillation Circulation, July 26, 2005; 112(4): 471 - 481. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. H. Falk Rate Control Is Preferable to Rhythm Control in the Majority of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Circulation, June 14, 2005; 111(23): 3141 - 3150. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 U Wetzel, A Boldt, J Lauschke, J Weigl, P Schirdewahn, A Dorszewski, N Doll, G Hindricks, S Dhein, and H Kottkamp Expression of connexins 40 and 43 in human left atrium in atrial fibrillation of different aetiologies Heart, February 1, 2005; 91(2): 166 - 170. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. M. Kistler, P. Sanders, S. P. Fynn, I. H. Stevenson, S. J. Spence, J. K. Vohra, P. B. Sparks, and J. M. Kalman Electrophysiologic and electroanatomic changes in the human atrium associated with age J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., July 7, 2004; 44(1): 109 - 116. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. P. Zipes The year in electrophysiology J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., April 7, 2004; 43(7): 1306 - 1314. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Xu, G. Cui, F. Esmailian, M. Plunkett, D. Marelli, A. Ardehali, J. Odim, H. Laks, and L. Sen Atrial Extracellular Matrix Remodeling and the Maintenance of Atrial Fibrillation Circulation, January 27, 2004; 109(3): 363 - 368. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
I. Savelieva and A. John Camm Atrial fibrillation and heart failure: natural history and pharmacological treatment Europace, January 1, 2003; 5(s1): S5 - S19. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|