title: Eicosapentaenoic acid prevents atrial fibrillation associated with heart failure in a rabbit model.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with morbidity and mortality of heart failure. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which is contained in fish oil, was shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. We investigated the effects of EPA on AF associated with heart failure in a rabbit model. Rabbits were subjected to ventricular tachypacing (VTP) for 4 wk with or without EPA treatment. Continuous VTP induced heart failure status in these rabbits. The duration of AF (DAF) induced by burst pacing was analyzed by electrophysiological studies. VTP resulted in increased DAF following burst pacing. EPA treatment attenuated increased DAF. Atrial fibrosis increased in response to VTP, accompanied by extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) expression in the atrium. Treatment with EPA attenuated atrial fibrosis, ERK phosphorylation, and TGF-β1 expression in response to VTP. EPA treatment increased adiponectin as an anti-inflammatory adipokine and decreased tumor necrosis factor-α as a proinflammatory adipokine in the atrium and epicardial adipose tissues. EPA attenuated VTP-induced AF promotion and atrial remodeling, which was accompanied by modulating the profiles of adipokine production from epicardial adipose tissue. EPA may be useful for prevention and treatment of AF associated with heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.forename: Rei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: Yukiomi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimano
authors.forename: Yasuya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inden
authors.forename: Toyoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murohara
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D012307:Risk Factors; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases