Electrical Remodeling in Fibrillating Canine Atrium

Action Potential Alternans During Rapid Atrial Pacing and Late Phase 3 Early Afterdepolarization After Cessation of Rapid Atrial Pacing

Abstract

Sustained atrial fibrillation (AF) was induced by atrial burst pacing, and monophasic action potentials (MAPs) were recorded. MAP alternans was observed at a cycle length (CL) of 167.5 ± 28.2 msec before burst pacing and 201.3 ± 40.2 msec after burst pacing. AF > 5 minutes duration was induced in 1 dog in the control condition but in all 8 dogs after burst pacing. The difference in RA MAPD₈₀ of the first spontaneous beat and steady-state sinus rhythm was significantly larger after atrial burst pacing than before atrial burst pacing (31.5 ± 15.9 msec versus 8.2 ± 9.0 msec) In 4 dogs, late phase 3 early afterdepolarization was observed after rapid atrial pacing. Rapid atrial pacing-induced electrical remodeling includes APD alternans during rapid atrial pacing and also causes an increase in the MAPD of the initial several beats and the development of late phase 3 early afterdepolarizations after a sudden increase in CL.