ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to investigate the possible role of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in Angiotensin-(1-7) (Ang-(1-7)) signaling pathway on atrial electrical and structural remodeling in a chronic rapid atrial pacing canine model. METHODS: Twenty-four dogs were randomly assigned to four groups: a sham group, paced control group, a paced + Ang-(1-7) group and a paced + Ang-(1-7) + A-71915 group. Atrial rapid pacing (ARP) at 600 bpm was maintained for 14 days except in the animals from the sham group. During the pacing, Ang-(1-7) (6 µgâ¢kg-1â¢h-1) or Ang-(1-7) (6 µgâ¢kg-1â¢h-1) + A-71915 (ANP receptor antagonist, 0.30 µgâ¢kg-1â¢h-1) were given intravenously, respectively. After pacing, it was measured that electrophysiological parameters including atrial effective refractory periods (ERPs), inducibility and duration of atrial fibrillation (AF), ICaL and INa changed, where ICaL refers to voltage-dependent L-type Ca(2+) current and INa refers to cardiac sodium current. Then, the fibrosis and the expression of Cav1.2, INav1.5α subunit, TGF-ß1 and ANP in atria were assessed. RESULTS: After ARP, compared with the sham group, the atrial ERPs at six sites in each dog were shortened with the increasing in inducibility and duration of AF in the paced control group. The density of ICaL, INa and the expression of Cav1.2, INav1.5α subunit mRNA were decreased. Atrial tissue from the paced dogs showed significant interstitial fibrosis. The expression of TGF-ß1 and ANP in mRNA and protein levels were increased. Compared with the paced control group, the shortening of atrial ERPs, and the increasing of inducibility and duration of AF induced by ARP were alleviated by Ang-(1-7) treatment (p < 0.05). The density of ICaL and INa and the expression of Cav1.2 and INav1.5α subunit mRNA were slightly decreased. Atrial tissue showed less interstitial fibrosis after Ang-(1-7) treatment. The increasing of ANP expression was improved by Ang-(1-7), while the increasing of TGF-ß1 expression was alleviated by Ang-(1-7) (p < 0.05). A-71915 treatment blocked the beneficial effects of Ang-(1-7) on the aforementioned electrophysiological parameters and atrial fibrosis. And A-71915 treatment blocked Ang-(1-7), improving the expression of TGF-ß1. CONCLUSION: Ang-(1-7) prevented atrial structural and electrical remodeling induced by ARP. Furthermore, Ang-(1-7) promoted ANP secretion, and ANP played a crucial role in the cardiac protection of the former.
Subject(s)
Angiotensin I/pharmacology , Atrial Natriuretic Factor/metabolism , Disease Models, Animal , Heart Atria/metabolism , Peptide Fragments/pharmacology , Tachycardia/metabolism , Animals , Atrial Natriuretic Factor/genetics , Cardiac Pacing, Artificial , Chronic Disease , Dogs , Heart Atria/drug effects , Heart Atria/pathology , Heart Atria/physiopathology , Hemodynamics/drug effects , Ion Channel Gating/drug effects , Protein Subunits/genetics , Protein Subunits/metabolism , RNA, Messenger/genetics , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , Refractory Period, Electrophysiological/drug effects , Tachycardia/pathology , Tachycardia/physiopathology , Transforming Growth Factor beta1/genetics , Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolismABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of the angiotensin-(1-7) signaling pathway and the possible role of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on atrial electrical remodeling in canines with acute atrial tachycardia. METHODS: Forty dogs were randomly assigned to eight groups (five dogs/group): sham, paced control, paced + angiotensin-(1-7), paced + angiotensin-(1-7) + Mas inhibitor, paced + angiotensin-(1-7) + Akt inhibitor, paced + angiotensin-(1-7) + PI3K inhibitor, paced + angiotensin-(1-7) + nitric oxide (NO) inhibitor, and paced + angiotensin-(1-7) + A-71915 (ANP receptor antagonist). Rapid atrial pacing was maintained at 600 bpm for 2 h for all groups, except the sham group, and angiotensin-(1-7) (6 µg kg(-1) h(-1)), Mas inhibitor (5.83 µg kg(-1) h(-1)), Akt inhibitor (2.14 µg kg(-1) h(-1)), PI3K inhibitor (2.86 µg kg(-1) h(-1)), NO synthase inhibitor (180 µg kg(-1)h(-1)), or A-71915 (0.30 µg kg(-1) h(-1)) were administered intravenously. Atrial effective refractory periods, inducibility, and duration of atrial fibrillation (pacing cycle lengths: 300, 250, and 200 ms), and left atrial ANP concentrations were measured. RESULTS: After pacing, the atrial effective refractory periods at the six sites shortened with increased inducibility and duration of atrial fibrillation, which was attenuated by angiotensin-(1-7), and increased ANP concentrations, which was promoted by angiotensin-(1-7) (paced control vs. sham; P < 0.05). All inhibitors and A-71915 blocked the electrophysiological effects of angiotensin-(1-7). ANP secretion induced by angiotensin-(1-7) was also blocked by all inhibitors. CONCLUSION: Angiotensin-(1-7) prevented acute electrical remodeling in canines with acute atrial tachycardia via the angiotensin-(1-7)/Mas/PI3K/Akt/NO signaling pathway. ANP was related to the anti-arrhythmic effects of angiotensin-(1-7).
