Anti-arrhythmic and anti-heart failure effects of low-level electrical
stimulation on aortic root ventricular ganglionated plexi
Abstract
Background: It remains uncertain whether low-level electrical
stimulation (LL-ES) of ventricular ganglionated plexi (GP) improves
heart function. Aim: This study investigates the anti-arrhythmic, and
heart function improving effects following LL-ES of aortic root
ventricular ganglionated plexi (ARVGP). Methods: Thirty dogs were
divided randomly into control, drug, and LL-ES groups after performing
rapid right ventricular pacing to establish a heart failure (HF) model.
The inducing rate of arrhythmia, bioactive factors of HF, including
angiotensin II type I receptor (AT-1R), transforming growth factor
(TGF-β), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), and phosphorylated
extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK1/2), left ventricular
stroke volume(LVSV) and ejection fraction(LVEF) were measured at
baseline, and after treatment with a placebo, drugs, and LL-ES,
respectively. Results: The inducing rate of arrhythmia decreased from
80% in the control group to 60% in the drug group, and to 10% after 1
week(w)of LL-ES (P=0.009). The expression of AT-1R, TGF-β, and MMP was
down-regulated, whilep-ERK1/2 increased significantly in the LL-ES group
(P=0.001, all) compared with drug group. The ventricular effective
refractory period (VERP) was prolonged from 139±8 ms in the drug group
to 166±13 ms after 1w of LL-ES (P=0.001).Moreover, LVSV increased
markedly from 13.16±0.22ml to 16.86±0.27ml after 1 w of LL-ES compared
with the drug group (P=0.001), and LVEF increased significantly from
38.48±0.53% to 48.94±0.57% during the same timeframe (P=0.001).
Conclusion: Short-term LL-ES of ARVGP had both anti-arrhythmic and
anti-inflammatory effects and contributed to the treatment of
tachycardia-induced HF and its associated arrhythmia.