Research on establishing vagal atrial fibrillation model and atrial electrophysiology

  AIM   AIM To investigate the crucial pathological process of atrial remodeling of atrial fibrillation (AF) and to establish a stable animal model of AF.

  METHODS   Forty health rats were randomly divided into 4 equal groups (n=10, each): Control Group, Model 1 Group, Model 2 Group and Model 3 Group. The rats in different groups were given tail intravenous injections of ACh and CaCl₂ of different concentrations and days. A Langendorff system was used to obtain a rat atrial effective refractory period (AERP). Atrial protein was extracted from AF model rats and Cav1.2 protein was detected using Western blot.

  RESULTS   The successful rates in different groups after 7 days were 100% in Model 1 Group, 70% in Model 2 Group and 0 in Model 3 Group. Significant differences were observed in the AF time after 35 days between Model 1 and Model 2 Groups, Model 1 and Model 3 Groups, Model 1 and Control Groups, and Model 2 and Control Groups (P≤0.05, all). AERP after 35 days was Control Group > Model 1 Group and Model 2 Group < Model 1 Group ( P≤0.05, both). There were differences in Cav1.2 between Control and Model Groups.

  CONCLUSION   Tail intravenous injection of ACh 99 μg/ml CaCl2 10 mg/ml for 35 days achieves higher establishment of a stable atrial fibrillation model.