title: Functional characterization of atrial electrograms in a pacing-induced heart failure model of atrial fibrillation: importance of regional atrial connexin40 remodeling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Heart failure (HF) increases the susceptibility to atrial fibrillation (AF) and is associated with altered cardiomyocyte connexin. The regional remodeling of connexin(s) may contribute to the spatiotemporal organization of AF. This study sought to investigate the regional differences in connexin(s) and fibrosis in specific atrial regions and correlate that with the electrogram properties.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biatrial electroanatomic mapping during sinus rhythm (electrogram voltage and velocity) and AF (dominant frequency, DF) was performed in 6 ventricular pacing-induced HF dogs (at 252 beats/minute for 6 weeks) and 6 controls. Atrial tissues were sampled from 7 specific sites for analysis of the connexin and fibrosis. HF caused marked atrial dilatation, and increased the induced AF duration (P < 0.001). Remodeled connexins, including a lower expression and more lateralization of both connexin40 (Cx40) and Cx43 as well as increased regional dispersion of Cx40, in the presence of diffuse enhanced atrial fibrosis, characterized the atrial substrate of the HF dogs (P < 0.01). Regional analysis showed abnormal velocity and low electrogram voltage in the areas with downregulated Cx40 and Cx43 was enhanced in the presence of marked atrial fibrosis (>30% of area, P < 0.01). During AF, lower expression of the Cx40 was associated with higher DF in areas of less and more fibrosis, respectively (R = 0.67 and 0.58, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An altered expression of connexins correlated with the electrogram properties in the existence of diffuse enhanced atrial fibrosis associated with HF. The regional remodeling of Cx40 is likely an important factor in the maintenance of AF in HF.
authors: Division of Cardiology, Taipei Wang-Fan Hospital and Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Ming-Hsiung
authors: MH
authors: Hsieh
authors: Yenn-Jiang
authors: YJ
authors: Lin
authors: Hsueh-Hsiao
authors: HH
authors: Wang
authors: Li-Wei
authors: LW
authors: Lo
authors: Shih-Lin
authors: SL
authors: Chang
authors: Yi-Ling
authors: YL
authors: Yan
authors: The-Ying
authors: TY
authors: Chou
authors: Shih-Ann
authors: SA
authors: Chen
authors: Hung-I
authors: HI
authors: Yeh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D017630:Connexins / Q000032:analysis*; D004285:Dogs; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005355:Fibrosis; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D000097003:Gap Junction alpha-5 Protein
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins; D000097003:Gap Junction alpha-5 Protein