title: Long-Term Effects of Ganglionated Plexi Ablation on Electrophysiological Characteristics and Neuron Remodeling in Target Atrial Tissues in a Canine Model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The long-term effects of ganglionated plexi ablation on electrophysiological characteristics and neuron remodeling in target atrial tissues remain unclear.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dogs in group 1 (control, n=8) were not subjected to ganglionated plexi ablation and observed for 1 month, and dogs in groups 2 to 4 (ablation groups, n=8 each) underwent ablation of the right-sided ganglionated plexi and observed for 1, 6, and 12 months, respectively. Atrial electrophysiological characteristics were examined before ablation, immediately and continuously after ablation. Target atrial tissues were subjected to immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis. Atrial effective refractory period was significantly prolonged immediately after ablation (P<0.001), and persisted for 1 month (P<0.05). Nerve densities decreased 1 month after ablation (P<0.001). These parameters reverted to preablation levels after 6 and 12 months. In the ablation groups, atrial fibrillation was induced in 5 of 8 dogs after 1 month and in all animals after 6 and 12 months. Atrial fibrillation was not observed in the control group and in the experimental groups immediately after ablation. Moreover, the expression of the growth-associated protein 43 was upregulated after ablation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ganglionated plexi ablation effectively prolonged atrial effective refractory period for a short period, but the long-term effects on atrial effective refractory period and the suppression of atrial fibrillation induction were not persistent. Targeted atrial neuron remodeling may be an important mechanism underlying the observed electrophysiological changes.
authors.affiliation: From the School of Medicine (X.W., Y.Z., W.W., Z.L.), Departments of Cardiology (X.X., M.G., Z.W., Y.H.), and Intensive Care Unit (M.Z.), Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Ximin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: From the School of Medicine (X.W., Y.Z., W.W., Z.L.), Departments of Cardiology (X.X., M.G., Z.W., Y.H.), and Intensive Care Unit (M.Z.), Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: From the School of Medicine (X.W., Y.Z., W.W., Z.L.), Departments of Cardiology (X.X., M.G., Z.W., Y.H.), and Intensive Care Unit (M.Z.), Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Yujiao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: From the School of Medicine (X.W., Y.Z., W.W., Z.L.), Departments of Cardiology (X.X., M.G., Z.W., Y.H.), and Intensive Care Unit (M.Z.), Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Xinxing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: From the School of Medicine (X.W., Y.Z., W.W., Z.L.), Departments of Cardiology (X.X., M.G., Z.W., Y.H.), and Intensive Care Unit (M.Z.), Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Weizong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: From the School of Medicine (X.W., Y.Z., W.W., Z.L.), Departments of Cardiology (X.X., M.G., Z.W., Y.H.), and Intensive Care Unit (M.Z.), Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Zhan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: From the School of Medicine (X.W., Y.Z., W.W., Z.L.), Departments of Cardiology (X.X., M.G., Z.W., Y.H.), and Intensive Care Unit (M.Z.), Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: From the School of Medicine (X.W., Y.Z., W.W., Z.L.), Departments of Cardiology (X.X., M.G., Z.W., Y.H.), and Intensive Care Unit (M.Z.), Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Zhongsu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: From the School of Medicine (X.W., Y.Z., W.W., Z.L.), Departments of Cardiology (X.X., M.G., Z.W., Y.H.), and Intensive Care Unit (M.Z.), Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China. houyinglong2010@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Yinglong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D004285:Dogs; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac; D005725:Ganglia, Autonomic / Q000601:surgery*; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry
keywords: GAP-43 protein; Western blotting; atrial fibrillation; catheter ablation; electrophysiology