Parasympathetic dysfunction and antiarrhythmic effect of vagal nerve stimulation following myocardial infarction.

ABSTRACT: Myocardial infarction causes sympathetic activation and parasympathetic dysfunction, which increase risk of sudden death due to ventricular arrhythmias. Mechanisms underlying parasympathetic dysfunction are unclear. The aim of this study was to delineate consequences of myocardial infarction on parasympathetic myocardial neurotransmitter levels and the function of parasympathetic cardiac ganglia neurons, and to assess electrophysiological effects of vagal nerve stimulation on ventricular arrhythmias in a chronic porcine infarct model. While norepinephrine levels decreased, cardiac acetylcholine levels remained preserved in border zones and viable myocardium of infarcted hearts. In vivo neuronal recordings demonstrated abnormalities in firing frequency of parasympathetic neurons of infarcte

SUBMITTER: Vaseghi M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5621871 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature