title: Lack of gelsolin promotes perpetuation of atrial fibrillation in the mouse heart.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gelsolin (gsn) is involved in the reorganization of the cytoskeleton, thereby modulating cardiomyocytal L-type Ca(2+) channels. We investigated global cardiac electrophysiological characteristics in a gsn-deficient (gsn(-/-)) mouse strain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using transvenous catheterization, atrial and ventricular stimulation were performed in 15 male mice [eight gsn(-/-), seven wild-type (gsn(+/+))]. Surface ECG, standard electrophysiological parameters, and inducibility of atrial fibrillation (AF) were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The surface ECG showed shorter PQ (37.8 +/- 4.6 versus 42.9 +/- 2.7 ms; P = 0.02), but longer QRS (16.5 +/- 1.8 versus 13.9 +/- 1.2 ms; P = 0.005) and QT intervals (38.5 +/- 2.2 versus 35.6 +/- 2.4 ms, P = 0.03) in gsn(-/-). Gsn(-/-) exhibited significantly higher susceptibility to induction of prolonged AF episodes > or =60 s [six of eight gsn(-/-) versus one of seven gsn(+/+); P = 0.04]. Sustained AF episodes > or =10 min were observed in 50% of the gsn-deficient animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gsn deficiency results in perpetuation of inducible episodes of atrial fibrillation. Altered L-type Ca(2+) currents and disturbed Ca(2+) handling known to be associated to gsn deficiency likely contribute to this effect.
authors: Department of Medicine-Cardiology, University of Bonn, Sigmund Freud Strasse 25, 53105, Bonn, Germany. jan.schrickel@ukb.uni-bonn.de
authors: Jan Wilko
authors: JW
authors: Schrickel
authors: Klaus
authors: K
authors: Fink
authors: Rainer
authors: R
authors: Meyer
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Grohé
authors: Florian
authors: F
authors: Stoeckigt
authors: Klaus
authors: K
authors: Tiemann
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Ghanem
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Lickfett
authors: Georg
authors: G
authors: Nickenig
authors: Thorsten
authors: T
authors: Lewalter
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018780:Body Surface Potential Mapping; D018260:Gelsolin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout
chemical_list: D018260:Gelsolin