In vivo effect of a dominant negative Kv4.2 loss-of-function mutation eliminating I(to,f) on atrial refractoriness and atrial fibrillation in mice.
BACKGROUND
Gain-of-function K(+) channel mutations cause familial atrial fibrillation (AF) by shortening of the atrial action potential duration (APD). APD-prolonging K(+) channel blockers are an effective therapeutic option in AF. In vitro, the dominant negative Kv4.2W362F mutation (Kv4DN) eliminates I(to,f) in murine atrial myocytes and markedly prolongs the APD, so whether this loss-of-function of I(to,f) alters the atrial effective refractory period (AERP) in vivo and/or affects AF-inducibility was investigated in the present study.


RESULTS
Transvenous electrophysiological studies were performed in vivo in Kv4DN and wild-type littermate control (LMC) mice. Intriguingly, no difference was found between Kv4DN and LMC for the AERP in vivo either at baseline or after carbachol. Consequently, AF-inducibility at baseline (Kv4DN: 10/16 vs LMC: 7/13) and after carbachol (Kv4DN: 9/16 vs LMC: 6/13) did not differ between groups. However, AF-inducibility was associated with a significantly shorter AERP (inducible 51.1 +/-1.4 vs non-inducible 58.4 +/-1.6; P<0.01) irrespective of genotype.


CONCLUSIONS
The loss-of-function of I(to,f) prolongs the APD in mouse atrial myocytes in vitro, but this effect on single cells does not translate into measurable AERP prolongation in vivo and hence does not exert an anti-arrhythmic effect. However, the susceptibility of mice to AF in vivo is determined by the individual AERP, irrespective of genotype.
Odening
Katja E
KE
Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Innere Medizin III, Kardiologie, Freiburg, Germany.
Nerbonne
Jeanne M
JM
Bode
Christoph
C
Zehender
Manfred
M
Brunner
Michael
M
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002217:Carbachol / Q000494:pharmacology; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D012032:Refractory Period, Electrophysiological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D051672:Shal Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D051672:Shal Potassium Channels; D002217:Carbachol