title: [Changes of heart electrophysiological parameters after destruction of epicardial subplexuses that innervate sinoatrial node].
abstract: The aims of present study were to verify the topography of the intracardiac nerve subplexuses (INS) by using electrophysiological methods, its relations with sinoatrial (SA) node function and to investigate possibility of selective surgical SA node denervation. Fifteen mongrel dogs of either sex weighing 8 to 15 kg were used for electrophysiological studies. Both cervical vagosympathetic trunks were isolated and crushed by tight ligatures. Nervus subplexuses destructions were performed by cryocoagulation in three zones located around the right superior vena cava: ventral, lateral and dorsal. The sinus rhythm, SA node function recovery time, AV node conductivity, AV node and atrial effective refractory period were measured. Five experiments in each of three zones were performed. Experimental data show that destruction of the epicardial nerves has different effect on electrophysiological parameters. After destruction of the anterior zone of the right atrium the sinus rhythm decreased on an average by 11.6%; SA node function recovery time prolonged by 7.2%; AV node conductivity decreased by 13.1%; AV node effective refractory period prolonged by 12.9% and atrial effective refractory period, by 10.9 %. Measurements of electrophysiological parameters after intravenous injection of atropine sulphate show that sinus rhythm decreased on an average by 23.4%; SA node function recovery time increased by 9.1%; the conductivity of AV node decreased by 10.2%; AV node effective refractory period prolonged by 15.4% and atrial effective refractory period, by 13.2%. After destruction of the intracardiac nerves of the lateral zone, the sinus rhythm decreased by 15.7%; SA node function recovery time increased by 16.3%; AV node conductivity decreased by 8.3%; AV node effective refractory period and atrial effective refractory period prolonged by 11.9% and 10.0%, respectively. After the atropine sulphate intravenous injection, the sinus rhythm decreased on an average by 7.1%, SA node function recovery time prolonged by 7.1%, AV conductivity decreased by 9.1%, AV node effective refractory period increased by 12.4%, and atrial effective refractory period prolonged by 12.5%. After destruction of the nerves in the dorsal zone the changes of electrophysiological parameters were opposite to those obtained after destruction of the nerve tracts in the anterior or lateral zones: the sinus rhythm increased on an average by 4.3%; SA node function recovery time shortened by 8.8%; AV conductivity increased by 9.7%; AV node and atrial effective refractory period decreased by 12.3% and 12.1%, respectively. After intravenous atropine sulphate infusion, sinus rhythm decreased on an average by 8.3%; SA node function recovery time prolonged by 9.6%; AV node conductivity decreased by 5%; AV node and atrial effective refractory period prolonged by 4.2% and 5.2%, respectively. The average changes of electrophysiological parameters before and after INS destruction shows that cryocoagulation of ventral and lateral zones eliminates the effects of sympathetic tone to SA and AV nodal activity. Cryocoagulation of dorsal zone eliminates the effects of nervus vagus to both nodal structures. These findings shows the possibility alter or correct SA node function by making selective surgical SA node denervation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Electrophysiology, Institute for Biomedical Research, Kaunas University of Medicine, Eiveniu 4, 3007 Kaunas, Lithuania. aritmija@kmu.lt
authors.forename: Arūnas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kulboka
authors.forename: Vincentas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Veikutis
authors.forename: Dainius Haroldas
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Pauza
authors.forename: Raimundas
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lekas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000503:physiopathology; D001283:Atrioventricular Node / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D003452:Cryosurgery; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003714:Denervation; D004285:Dogs; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D008297:Male; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D010496:Pericardium / Q000294:innervation; D012849:Sinoatrial Node / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology