Left-sided Noninvasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation Suppresses Atrial Fibrillation by Upregulating Atrial Gap Junctions in Canines

Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology
Mingxian ChenShenghua Zhou

Abstract

We have previously shown that right-sided low-level tragus nerve stimulation (LL-TS) is an effective approach for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) induced by rapid atrial pacing (RAP) and acts by preventing the loss of atrial connexins (Cxs). Whether a left-sided approach would achieve the same effect remains unknown. We hypothesized that left-sided LL-TS would inhibit AF by preserving atrial Cxs as effectively as right-sided LL-TS. Bilateral thoracotomies allowed the attachment of multielectrode catheters to the pulmonary vein and non-pulmonary vein sites in 32 anaesthetized beagles. The dogs were randomly divided into 3 groups: RAP group (9 hours of RAP at the left appendage, n = 10), LL-TS group (9-hour RAP plus LL-TS, n = 12), and control group (sham RAP without LL-TS, n = 10). Alligator clips were clipped on the tragus of the left ear for electrical stimulation (20 Hz, 1 millisecond square waves). A voltage of stimulation setting at 80% below the threshold that slowed the sinus rate was defined as LL-TS. Electrophysiological parameters were measured at baseline and 9 hours after pacing. Connexin proteins from atrial tissues were measured at the end of the protocol. RAP induced a significant reduction in the effect...Continue Reading

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Citations

Oct 12, 2016·JACC. Clinical Electrophysiology·Olujimi A Ajijola, David Hamon
Jul 9, 2016·Autonomic Neuroscience : Basic & Clinical·Aaron R MurrayJim Deuchars
Sep 15, 2017·Journal of the American Heart Association·Lilei YuHong Jiang
Jul 16, 2019·Expert Review of Medical Devices·Yuhong WangHong Jiang
Nov 20, 2019·Journal of Anatomy·Mohsin F ButtQasim Aziz
Dec 23, 2020·Neuromodulation : Journal of the International Neuromodulation Society·Yu WangPeijing Rong
Jan 2, 2021·Frontiers in Physiology·Mingxian ChenShenghua Zhou
May 12, 2021·Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : PACE·Hong-Tao WangQiang-Sun Zheng

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