title: Establishment of a model of renal impairment with mild renal insufficiency associated with atrial fibrillation in canines.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic kidney disease and occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) are closely related. No studies have examined whether renal impairment (RI) without severe renal dysfunction is associated with the occurrence of AF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unilateral RI with mild renal insufficiency was induced in beagles by embolization of small branches of the renal artery in the left kidney for 2 weeks using gelatin sponge granules in the model group (n = 5). The sham group (n = 5) underwent the same procedure, except for embolization. Parameters associated with RI and renal function were tested, cardiac electrophysiological parameters, blood pressure, left ventricular pressure, and AF vulnerability were investigated. The activity of the sympathetic nervous system, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, inflammation, and oxidative stress were measured. Histological studies associated with atrial interstitial fibrosis were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Embolization of small branches of the renal artery in the left kidney led to ischemic RI with mild renal insufficiency. The following changes occurred after embolization. Heart rate and P wave duration were increased. Blood pressure and left ventricular systolic pressure were elevated. The atrial effective refractory period and antegrade Wenckebach point were shortened. Episodes and duration of AF, as well as atrial and ventricular rate during AF were increased in the model group. Plasma levels of norepinephrine, renin, and aldosterone were increased, angiotensin II and aldosterone levels in atrial tissue were elevated, and atrial interstitial fibrosis was enhanced after 2 weeks of embolization in the model group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We successfully established a model of RI with mild renal insufficiency in a large animal. We found that RI with mild renal insufficiency was associated with AF in this model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhuo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Li-Feng
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Pei
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiang-Min
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Yang
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhao-Liang
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Tang
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D017725:Ventricular Pressure
chemical_list: D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D012083:Renin; D009638:Norepinephrine