Background-Atrial fibrillation (AF) is frequently associated with atrial di
latation caused by pressure or volume overload. Stretch-activated channels
(SACs) have been found in myocardial cells and may promote AI: in dilated a
tl ia. To prove this hypothesis, we investigated the effect of the SAC bloc
ker gadolinium (Gd3+) on AF propensity in the isolated rabbit heart during
atrial stretch.
Methods and Results-In 16 isolated Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts, the
interatrial septum was perforated to equalize biatrial pressures. Caval and
pulmonary veins were occluded. Intra-atrial pressure (IAP) was increased i
n steps of ? to 3 cm H2O by increasing the pulmonary outflow fluid column.
Vulnerability to AF was evaluated by 15-second burst pacing at each IAP lev
el, At baseline, IAP needed to be raised to 8.8+/-0.2 cm H2O (mean+/-SEM) t
o induce AF, A dose-dependent decrease in AF vulnerability was observed aft
er Gd3+ 12.5, 25, and 50 mu mol/L was added, AF threshold increased to 19.0
+/-0.5 cm H2O with Gd3+ 50 mu mol/L (P<0.001 versus baseline). Spontaneous
runs of AF occurred in 5 hearts on a rise of IAP to 13.8+/-3.3 cm H2O at ba
seline but never during Gd3+. Atrial effective refractory period shortened
progressively from 78+/-3 ms at 0.5 cm H2O to 52+/-3 ms at 20 cm H2O (P<0.0
5). Gd3+ 50 mu mol/L had no significant effect on effective refractory peri
od.
Conclusions-Acute atrial stretch significantly enhances the vulnerability t
o AF, Gd3+ reduces the stretch-induced vulnerability to AF in a dose-depend
ent manner. Block of SAC might represent a novel antiarrhythmic approach to
AF under conditions of elevated atrial pressure or volume.