title: Neural control of ventricular rate in ambulatory dogs with pacing-induced sustained atrial fibrillation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We hypothesize that inferior vena cava-inferior atrial ganglionated plexus nerve activity (IVC-IAGPNA) is responsible for ventricular rate (VR) control during atrial fibrillation (AF) in ambulatory dogs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We recorded bilateral cervical vagal nerve activity (VNA) and IVC-IAGPNA during baseline sinus rhythm and during pacing-induced sustained AF in 6 ambulatory dogs. Integrated nerve activities and average VR were measured every 10 seconds over 24 hours. Left VNA was associated with VR reduction during AF in 5 dogs (from 211 bpm [95% CI, 186-233] to 178 bpm [95% CI, 145-210]; P<0.001) and right VNA in 1 dog (from 208 bpm [95% CI, 197-223] to 181 bpm [95% CI, 163-200]; P<0.01). There were good correlations between IVC-IAGPNA and left VNA in the former 5 dogs and between IVC-IAGPNA and right VNA in the last dog. IVC-IAGPNA was associated with VR reduction in all dogs studied. Right VNA was associated with baseline sinus rate reduction from 105 bpm (95% CI, 95-116) to 77 bpm (95% CI, 64-91; P<0.01) in 4 dogs, whereas left VNA was associated with sinus rate reduction from 111 bpm (95% CI, 90-1250) to 81 bpm (95% CI, 67-103; P<0.01) in 2 dogs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IVC-IAGPNA is invariably associated with VR reduction during AF. In comparison, right or left VNA was associated with VR reduction only when it coactivates with the IVC-IAGPNA. The vagal nerve that controls VR during AF may be different from that which controls sinus rhythm.
authors.affiliation: Krannert Institute of Cardiology, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
authors.forename: Hyung-Wook
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Seongwook
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Tetsuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shinohara
authors.forename: Mitsunori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: Young-Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Changyu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Lan S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fishbein
authors.forename: Shien-Fong
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Peng-Sheng
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology