title: Renal sympathetic denervation suppresses atrial fibrillation induced by acute atrial ischemia/infarction through inhibition of cardiac sympathetic activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to explore the effects of renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) on atrial fibrillation (AF) inducibility and sympathetic activity induced by acute atrial ischemia/infarction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acute ischemia/infarction was induced in 12 beagle dogs by ligating coronary arteries that supply the atria. Six dogs in the sham-RSD group did not undergo RSD, and six dogs without coronary artery ligation served as controls. AF induction rate, sympathetic discharge, catecholamine concentration and densities of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive nerves were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acute atrial ischemia/infarction resulted in a significant increase of AF induction rate, which was decreased by RSD compared to controls (P<0.05). The root-mean-square peak value, peak area and number of sympathetic discharges were significantly augmented by atrial ischemia relative to the baseline and control (P<0.05). The number of sympathetic discharges was significantly reduced in the RSD group, compared to the control and sham-RSD groups (P<0.05). Norepinephrine and epinephrine concentrations in the atria, ventricle and kidney were elevated by atrial ischemia/infarction, but were reduced by RSD (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sympathetic hyperactivity was associated with pacing-induced AF after acute atrial ischemia/infarction. RSD has the potential to reduce the incidence of new-onset AF after acute atrial ischemia/infarction. The inhibition of cardiac sympathetic activity by RSD may be one of the major underlying mechanisms for the marked reduction of AF inducibility.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Medicine, Postdoctoral Scientific Research Station, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.
authors.forename: Qina
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Heart Center, Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.
authors.forename: Xianhui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Heart Center, Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.
authors.forename: ZuKe-la
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: TuEr-Hong
authors.affiliation: Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.
authors.forename: Hongli
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Heart Center, Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.
authors.forename: Tingting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Heart Center, Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.
authors.forename: Yaodong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Heart Center, Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Heart Center, Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.
authors.forename: Yanmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Heart Center, Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: Heart Center, Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.
authors.forename: Jianghua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China. Electronic address: yagnyin5126@163.com.
authors.forename: Yining
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Heart Center, Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China. Electronic address: tangbaopeng1111@163.com.
authors.forename: Baopeng
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology; D007668:Kidney / Q000294:innervation*; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications; D013562:Sympathectomy; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Infarction; Ischemia; Renal sympathetic denervation; Sympathetic activity