title: Continuous vagal nerve stimulation affects atrial neural remodeling and reduces atrial fibrillation inducibility in rabbits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effects of continuous vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) on atrial neural remodeling during atrial fibrillation (AF) remain unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that VNS affects atrial neural remodeling and reduces AF inducibility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: rapid atrial pacing (RAP) group and RAP with VNS group. AF inducibility studies and atrial histologic analyses were performed after 4 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five rabbits of RAP group (5/10) in the RAP group developed sustained AF. None of rabbits in RAP with VNS group had developed AF. The incidence of sustained AF in VNS group was significant lower than that in rapid pacing group (P<.01). Treatment with VNS resulted in a significant reduction in atrial neural remodeling and AF duration (P<.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Atrial neural remodeling plays an important role in the initiation and maintenance of AF. Modulating autonomic nerve function with VNS can contribute to AF control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China.
authors.forename: Zhaolei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China.
authors.forename: Fang-Bao
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China.
authors.forename: Shi-Ao
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China. Electronic address: ju_mei1963@126.com.
authors.forename: Ju
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D064752:Atrial Remodeling; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D019922:GAP-43 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000294:innervation* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055536:Vagus Nerve Stimulation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Atrial neural remodeling; Vagal nerve stimulation