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T Opthof

Publications and source records attributed to T Opthof.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Sense and nonsense about the impact factor.

The impact factor is based on citations of papers published by a scientific journal. It has been published since 1961 by the Institute for Scientific Information. It may be regarded as an estimate of the citation rate of a journal's papers, and the higher its value, the higher the scientific esteem of the journal. Although the impact factor was originally meant for comparison of journals, it is also used for assessment of the quality of individual papers, scientists and departments. For the latter a scientific basis is lacking, as we will demonstrate in this contribution.

Bibliometrics↗
PubMed1996

Electrophysiologic and extracellular ionic changes during acute ischemia in failing and normal rabbit myocardium.

The incidence of ventricular arrhythmias is higher in failing hearts than in control hearts, especially during acute ischemia. Electrophysiological and extracellular ionic changes during acute ischemia in normal and failing rabbit myocardium were assessed. Heart failure was induced in rabbits by combined volume and pressure overload. In perfused papillary muscles, the onset of electrical uncoupling and changes in action potential duration and conduction velocity during acute ischemia were determined. In Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts the changes in extracellular potassium concentration ([K+]o) and pH during acute global ischemia were studied. In perfused papillary muscles, during the first 10 min of ischemia, action potential duration at 80% of repolarization decreased more in preparations from failing than from control hearts (from 174 to 104 ms and from 156 to 119 ms respectively (P < 0.001)). Conduction velocity was significantly lower in failing hearts during ischemia (P < 0.005). The onset of electrical uncoupling was similar in failing and control hearts (mean +/- S.E.M., 17 +/- 1 and 15 +/- 1 min respectively, n.s.). Langendorff-perfused hearts [K+]o, after 10 min of ischemia, was 11.0 +/- 0.4 mM in failing and 9.5 +/- 0.3 mM in control hearts (P < 0.01), while the change in pH was the same. After pretreatment with glibenclamide, an ATP sensitive K+ channel blocker, [K+]o reached lower values after 10 min of ischemia in both failing (8.8 +/- 0.5 mM) and control hearts (7.2 +/- 0.4 mM). During ischemia, action potential duration shortening is more pronounced and conduction velocity is lower in failing myocardium than in control myocardium. [K+]o reaches higher values during acute ischemia in failing compared with normal myocardium. These changes are not caused by an earlier activation of IK.ATP. Increased spatial dispersion in electrophysiological parameters and [K+]o over the ischemic border in failing hearts may explain the higher propensity for reentrant arrhythmias during acute regional ischemia in failing hearts.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1996

The origin of increased cytoplasmic calcium upon reversal of the Na+/Ca(2+)-exchanger in isolated rat ventricular myocytes.

Reversal of the driving force of the Na+/Ca(2+)-exchanger (delta Gexch) by a sufficiently large change of the transsarcolemmal electrochemical potential of sodium and calcium causes a transient increase of cytoplasmic calcium ([Ca2+]i). The objective of this study was to investigate the origin of this transient increase of calcium. In isolated quiescent rat ventricular myocytes delta Gexch was abruptly changed by reduction of extracellular sodium ([Na+]o), with or without a simultaneous increase of potassium ([K+]o) or calcium ([Ca2+]i). [Ca2+]i was measured with indo-1. A particular change of delta Gexch induced either by reduction of [Na+]o alone or in combination with increase of [Ca2+]o, produced a transient increase of [Ca2+]i of the same magnitude with a maximum after around 30s. The response of [Ca2+]i was insensitive to verapamil, but was greatly reduced by ryanodine, thapsigargin and caffeine, indicating a large contribution originating from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). The magnitude of the response of [Ca2+]i and also the contribution from SR increased with increasing change of delta Gexch. A particular change of delta Gexch. Induced by a reduction of [Na+]o in combination with membrane depolarization (increase of [K+]o) increased the response of [Ca2+]i, compared that induced by reduction of [Na+]o alone at the same change of delta Gexch. This effect increased with the degree of depolarization, and was completely abolished by verapamil. Also in depolarized cells the response of [Ca2+]i was reduced by ryanodine. However, the contribution from SR to the response did not depend on the degree of depolarization, but only on the magnitude of the change of delta Gexch. Inhibition of the Na+/Ca(2+)-exchanger by Ni2+ almost completely abolished the response of [Ca2+]i to reduction of [Na+]o. Restitution of [Na+]o during the course of the calcium response greatly accelerated the rate of decay of [Ca2+]i. It is concluded that in quiescent rat ventricular myocytes, a large part of the transient increase of cytoplasmic calcium associated with reversal of the driving force of the Na+/Ca(2+)-exchanger originates from SR. Reversal of the exchanger combined with sustained depolarization increased the transient of [Ca2+]i, but the extra influx of calcium associated with depolarization did not affect the contribution from SR.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Intracellular Ca2+, intercellular electrical coupling, and mechanical activity in ischemic rabbit papillary muscle. Effects of preconditioning and metabolic blockade.

During myocardial ischemia, electrical uncoupling and contracture herald irreversible damage. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that an increase of intracellular Ca2+ is an important factor initiating these events. Therefore, we simultaneously determined tissue resistance, mechanical activity, pH(0), and intracellular Ca2+ (with the fluorescent indicator indo 1, Molecular Probes, Inc) in arterially perfused rabbit papillary muscles. Sustained ischemia was induced in three experimental groups: (1) control, (2) preparations preconditioned with two 5-minute periods of ischemia followed by reperfusion, and (3) preparations pretreated with 1 mmol/L iodoacetate to block anaerobic metabolism and minimize acidification during ischemia. In a fourth experimental group, intracellular Ca2+ was increased under nonischemic conditions by perfusing with 0.1 mmol/L ionomycin and 0.1 mumol/L gramicidin. Ca2+ transients and contractions rapidly disappeared after the induction of ischemia. In the control group, diastolic Ca2+ began to rise after 12.6 +/- 1.3 minutes of ischemia; uncoupling, after 14.5 +/- 1.2 minutes of ischemia; and contracture, after 12.6 +/- 1.5 minutes of ischemia (mean +/- SEM). Preconditioning significantly postponed Ca2+ rise, uncoupling, and contracture (21.5 +/- 4.0, 24.0 +/- 4.1, and 23.0 +/- 5.3 minutes of ischemia, respectively). Pretreatment with iodoacetate significantly advanced these events (1.9 +/- 0.7, 3.6 +/- 0.9, and 1.9 +/- 0.2 minutes of ischemia, respectively). In all groups, the onset of uncoupling always followed the start of Ca2+ rise, whereas the start of contracture was not different from the rise in Ca2+. Perfusion with ionomycin and gramicidin permitted estimation of a threshold [Ca2+] for electrical uncoupling of 685 +/- 85 nmol/L. In conclusion, the rise in intracellular Ca2+ is the main trigger for cellular uncoupling during ischemia. Contracture is closely associated with the increase of intracellular Ca2+ during ischemia.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Delayed rectifier channels in human ventricular myocytes.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that in heart there are two kinetically distinct components of delayed rectifier current: a rapidly activating component (IKr) and a more slowly activating component (IKs). The presence of IKr and/or IKs appears to be species dependent. We studied the nature of the delayed rectifier current in human ventricle in whole-cell and single-channel experiments. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ventricular myocytes were obtained from hearts of patients with ischemic or dilated cardiomyopathy. Single-channel currents and whole-cell tail currents were recorded at negative potentials directly after return from a depolarizing step. Single-channel currents were measured in the cell-attached patch configuration with 140 mmol/L K+ in the pipette. In the present study, we identified a voltage-dependent channel with a single-channel conductance of 12.9 +/- 0.8 pS (mean +/- SEM, n = 5) and a reversal potential near to the K+ equilibrium potential, suggesting that the channel is selective to K+ ions. Channel activity was observed only after a depolarizing step and increased with the duration and amplitude of the depolarization, indicating time- and voltage-dependent activation. Activation at +30 mV was complete within 300 milliseconds, and the time constant of activation, determined in the whole-cell configuration, was 101 +/- 25 milliseconds (mean +/- SEM, n = 4). The voltage dependence of activation could be described by a Boltzmann equation with a half-activation potential of -29.9 mV and a slope factor of 9.5 mV. The addition of the class III antiarrhythmic drug E-4031 completely blocked channel activity in one patch. No indications for the presence of IKs were found in these experiments. CONCLUSIONS: The conformity between the properties of IKr and those of the K+ channel in the present study strongly suggests that IKr is present in human ventricle.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1995

Dispersion of 'refractoriness' in noninfarcted myocardium of patients with ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation after myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Postinfarction ventricular tachycardias (VTs) may degenerate into ventricular fibrillation (VF), but this does not happen in all patients. The underlying mechanism is not exactly known, but dispersion of refractory periods is considered a major factor in both induction and persistence of reentrant arrhythmias in general. Hypertrophied, noninfarcted myocardium has altered electrophysiological characteristics. We hypothesized that noninfarcted ventricular tissue may provide the heterogeneities that cause the transition from VT into VF. Local fibrillation intervals, ie, the average interval between local activations during VF, have previously been shown to correlate well with local refractoriness in human and canine atrium and in porcine and canine ventricle and may therefore be used as an index of local refractoriness. This technique permits simultaneous assessment of refractoriness at multiple sites. METHODS AND RESULTS: We measured local fibrillation intervals at 32 to 64 sites in the noninfarcted part of the left ventricle in patients undergoing antiarrhythmic surgery for symptomatic, drug-refractory, postinfarction ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The grid of electrodes (interelectrode distance, 7 mm) was attached to the epicardium of the left ventricle remote from the infarcted tissue. Group 1 consisted of 7 patients with hemodynamically tolerable sustained VT (VT group). Group 2 consisted of 7 patients with cardiac arrest and documented VF (VF group). With the patients on cardiopulmonary bypass, VF was induced by multiple premature stimulation. The VF interval was not significantly different in the two study groups (VT group, 136 +/- 5.5 ms; VF group, 129 +/- 3.4 ms, mean +/- SEM). However, spatial dispersion of the VF intervals (remote from the infarcted area) expressed as the coefficient of variation of VF intervals (SD x 100/mean VF interval in each heart) was significantly larger in the VF group. It was 3.63 +/- 0.56 in the VF group and 1.55 +/- 0.40 in the VT group (mean +/- SEM; P < .01). Differences between the shortest and longest VF intervals in one and the same heart and the largest difference between two adjacent sites were also larger in the VF group (P < .02 and P < .05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows larger dispersion in VF intervals and therefore suggests larger dispersion of refractory periods in parts of the myocardium remote from the infarction in patients with postinfarction VF than in patients with postinfarction VT.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

The relation between extracellular potassium concentration and pH in the border zone during regional ischemia in isolated porcine hearts.

During regional ischemia gradients of extracellular potassium concentration ([K+]o) and extracellular pH (pHo) exist. In globally ischemic papillary muscles increased PCO2 causes a rise in [K+]o. We studied whether pHo and [K+]o are causally related during acute regional ischemia in the isolated blood-perfused pig heart. Multiple pH- or K(+)-sensitive electrodes were inserted in the left ventricular midmyocardium. Local electrograms and ionic data were simultaneously acquired. Regional ischemia was produced by interrupting left anterior descending (LAD) artery flow (10 min). Up to 5 mm from the electrophysiological border the pH-K relation deviated from that in the central ischemic zone. Respiratory acidosis (pH about 7.10) of the perfusate in the presence of LAD-ischemia caused acidification of the ischemic border zone without a local change in [K+]o. We conclude that pHo changes are not related to changes of intramural [K+]o in the lateral border zone during regional ischemia.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Slow potentials in the atrioventricular junctional area of patients operated on for atrioventricular node tachycardias and in isolated porcine hearts.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to 1) investigate extracellular electrograms in the atrioventricular (AV) junctional area of patients with AV node reentrant tachycardia, 2) compare them with recordings made in isolated porcine hearts, and 3) study their origin. BACKGROUND: Electrograms with slow components have been used to target the delivery of radiofrequency energy for the cure of AV node reentrant tachycardia. The origin of these electrograms is unknown. METHODS: In 12 human and 19 porcine hearts, extracellular recordings were made simultaneously from 64 sites. In five other porcine hearts, intracellular recordings were made at sites at which extracellular electrograms revealed slow potentials. Histologic investigations were carried out in four of these hearts. RESULTS: Electrograms with slow components were recorded in five human and eight porcine hearts. These signals were found at sites up to 12 mm from the His bundle. Characteristics of the electrograms did not differ significantly among human and porcine hearts. Electrophysiologic evidence for multiple pathways was present in four hearts. Superficial impalements with microelectrodes at sites with slow potentials showed action potentials with AV node characteristics. In the majority of these recordings, the upstroke coincided with the downstroke of slow potentials. Histologic investigations of the sites of impalement revealed transitional cells directly underneath the endocardium. CONCLUSIONS: Slow potentials were recorded in both human and porcine hearts in similar measure. They arise from transitional cells and have action potentials similar to N cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Triggered activity and automaticity in ventricular trabeculae of failing human and rabbit hearts.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess the occurrence of triggered activity and automaticity in ventricular trabeculae from failing human hearts and normal and failing rabbit hearts during exposure to a normal and altered extracellular environment. METHODS: Ventricular trabeculae were harvested from failing human hearts (from patients undergoing cardiac transplantation) and from normal and failing rabbit hearts (combined volume and pressure overload). Trabeculae were superfused with normal Tyrode solution followed by a modified Tyrode solution, which mimicked the extracellular milieu in patients with severe heart failure. Modified Tyrode solution contained low potassium (3.0 mM), low magnesium (0.4 mM), and noradrenaline (1 microM). RESULTS: During superfusion with normal Tyrode solution, early afterdepolarisations, delayed afterdepolarisations, and automaticity were not observed in trabeculae from failing hearts. In the modified Tyrode solution, early afterdepolarisations could be induced in 26% of control rabbit and 30% of failing rabbit trabeculae, but never in human trabeculae. During superfusion with the modified solution delayed afterdepolarisations or triggered activity could be induced in 50% of the human failing trabeculae, in 43% of the failing rabbit trabeculae, and in 9% of the normal rabbit trabeculae (p < 0.01); automaticity was observed in 44% of the human trabeculae, and in 7% of the failing rabbit trabeculae, but in none of the control rabbit trabeculae. In failing rabbit myocardium action potential duration was prolonged at cycle lengths > or = 350 ms, but not at shorter cycle lengths. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed afterdepolarisations and automaticity, but not early afterdepolarisations, occur more frequently in myocardium from failing hearts, but only during superfusion with a modified Tyrode solution. This emphasises that the extracellular environment is important with respect to arrhythmogenesis in heart failure, apart from the fixed cellular defect due to heart failure per se. Prolongation of the action potential in failing hearts does not occur at physiological and higher heart rates and therefore cannot be regarded as a protective factor in the prevention of reentrant arrhythmias. The rate of triggered and automatic rhythms was slow. Therefore these mechanisms cannot be responsible for clinical ventricular tachycardias or fibrillation, but may serve as triggers for reentrant arrhythmias.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Phentolamine blocks ATP sensitive potassium channels in cardiac ventricular cells.

OBJECTIVE: The alpha adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine prevents ischaemia related arrhythmias in rat, guinea pig, and cat heart. This effect has been related to the attenuation of ischaemia induced shortening of the action potential and has been ascribed to its alpha adrenoceptor antagonist properties. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of phentolamine on the ATP sensitive potassium channel (KATP), because this channel seems to be involved in action potential shortening during ischaemia. METHODS: Single channel experiments were performed on inside-out and outside-out patches of isolated rabbit ventricular cells at room temperature. Cells were isolated with conventional isolation techniques. Pipette and bath solution contained (in mmol.litre-1): K-gluconate 140, KCl 10, and HEPES-KOH 10 (pH 7.4). RESULTS: Excision of the patch always resulted in KATP channel activity [single channel conductance 60(SD 2.8) pS n = 4], which could be completely blocked by 5 mM ATP. In 22 of 26 patches the addition of 5 microM phentolamine to the intracellular side of the membrane reduced KATP channel activity. In 17 of these patches the effect was reversible. In four patches no effect was observed. Open probability decreased by 94% (n = 12). Addition of 50 microM phentolamine resulted in the disappearance of channel activity in six of eight patches which was reversible in four patches. In outside-out patches 5 microM phentolamine was only effective in 50% of the patches, reducing open probability by 98 to 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Phentolamine blocks ATP sensitive potassium channels in rabbit ventricular cells independently of the alpha adrenoceptor. This blocking effect probably occurs at the intracellular side of the membrane. The antiarrhythmic effect of phentolamine may at least partially be explained by blockade of KATP channels and may thus partly be independent of its effects on the alpha adrenoceptor.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1994

Origin and significance of double potentials near the atrioventricular node. Correlation of extracellular potentials, intracellular potentials, and histology.

BACKGROUND: Atrioventricular junctional (AV nodal) reentrant tachycardia can be cured by catheter ablation of the slow pathway, which is part of the reentrant circuit. Previous work has suggested that extracellular double potentials may help identify the site of the slow pathway, but the origin and significance of these potentials are controversial. The aim of this study was to identify the source of these potentials. METHODS AND RESULTS: Studies were performed in isolated, blood-perfused porcine (n = 8) and canine (n = 4) hearts. Several methods were used to identify the origin of potentials: microelectrode recording, extracellular mapping, pacing from multiple sites, and light microscopy. Two types of double potentials, similar to those found in humans, were found in all hearts. LH potentials consisted of a low-frequency deflection followed by a high-frequency deflection during sinus rhythm or anterior septal pacing. HL potentials consisted of a high-frequency deflection followed by a low-frequency deflection. LH potentials were found close to the coronary sinus orifice. They were caused by asynchronous activation of the sinus septum and the region between the coronary sinus orifice and tricuspid annulus. HL double potentials were found along the tricuspid annulus. They were caused by asynchronous activation of two cell layers. The high-frequency component was caused by depolarization of atrial-type cells in the deep subendocardial layer. The low-frequency component was caused by depolarization of cells with nodal characteristics close to the endocardium. These cells were present around the entire tricuspid annulus, were not part of the compact AV node, and could be dissociated from the bulk of the atria by rapid atrial pacing. CONCLUSIONS: LH potentials are caused by asynchronous activation of muscle bundles above and below the coronary sinus orifice. Their proximity to the site of the slow pathway is probably serendipity. HL double potentials are caused by asynchronous activation of atrial cells and a band of nodal-type cells close to the tricuspid annulus. The band of nodal-type cells is not part of the compact AV node and may represent the substrate of the slow AV nodal pathway.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1993

R 56865 delays cellular electrical uncoupling in ischemic rabbit papillary muscle.

The compound R56865 protects the heart from irreversible ischemic damage. The proposed mechanism of its action is a reduction of Ca2+ overload secondary to a reduction of intracellular Na+, caused by blockade of the Na(+)-channel. In addition, cardioprotection is ascribed to blockade of the Na(+)-sensitive K(+)-channel (IK-Na). We tested whether R 56865 delays cellular electrical uncoupling, one aspect of irreversible ischemic damage that is due to Ca2+ overload. Also, we studied whether the Na(+)-channel and IK-Na are involved in cardioprotection by relating delay of the onset of cellular electrical uncoupling to changes of conduction velocity and action potential duration (APD80), respectively. Experiments were performed with isolated perfused rabbit papillary muscles that were treated with 1 microM R 56865 for 45 min prior to ischemia. Uncoupling started at 15.0 +/- 0.8 min (mean +/- S.E.M., n = 12) of ischemia in the control group and at 23.4 +/- 1.7 min in the R 56865 group (n = 9, P < 0.005 vs control). R 56865 tended to decrease conduction velocity and to increase APD80 during pre-treatment, but these changes were not statistically significant. During ischemia, conduction velocity was statistically not different between the R 56865 group and the control group. APD80 was significantly longer in the R 56865 than in the control group during the first 7 min of ischemia and similar after that. We conclude that R 56865 delays the onset of cellular uncoupling during ischemia and that this effect is not related to changes of conduction velocity and at most in part to changes of APD80.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1993

Dispersion of refractoriness in normal and ischaemic canine ventricle: effects of sympathetic stimulation.

OBJECTIVE: Dispersion in refractoriness is considered a major factor in induction and persistence of cardiac arrhythmias. The sympathetic nervous system is known to modulate refractoriness. An index of refractoriness has therefore been assessed in normal and ischaemic myocardium simultaneously at multiple sites, with and without sympathetic stimulation. METHODS: In six dogs on total cardiopulmonary bypass the average interval between local activations was measured during artificially induced ventricular fibrillation from extracellular electrograms simultaneously recorded from 32 ventricular sites. These local ventricular fibrillation intervals may be used as an index of local refractoriness. RESULTS: During regional ischaemia, ventricular fibrillation intervals of ischaemic sites could prolong by up to 60% after 3 min following coronary occlusion. Left stellate ganglion stimulation during ischaemia produced either no response or prolonged the ventricular fibrillation intervals even further at ischaemic sites, whereas ventricular fibrillation intervals at non-ischaemic sites shortened. Dispersion in refractoriness across the ischaemic border increased by 14-59% in individual hearts following sympathetic stimulation during acute, regional ischaemia. CONCLUSIONS: Due to opposite effects on normal and ischaemic myocardium, sympathetic stimulation increases the difference in refractoriness over the ischaemic border. This may enhance the chance for regional conduction block and the propensity to re-entrant arrhythmias.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1993

Ischaemic preconditioning delays ischaemia induced cellular electrical uncoupling in rabbit myocardium by activation of ATP sensitive potassium channels.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to examine whether ischaemic preconditioning delays the onset of cellular electrical uncoupling during ischaemia, and whether the effect of preconditioning is mediated by the activation of ATP sensitive K+ channels (IK-ATP). METHODS: Onset of uncoupling, action potential duration (APD80), and conduction velocity were measured in an isolated perfused rabbit papillary muscle. Preconditioning consisted of 10 min occlusion and 10 min reperfusion prior to 40 min sustained ischaemia. Five groups were studied: (1) control (sustained ischaemia only); (2) preconditioning; (3) preconditioning with 20 microM glibenclamide, a blocker of IK-ATP, added for 10 min during the reperfusion period; (4) sustained ischaemia after 15 min perfusion with 20 microM cromakalim (BRL 34915), an opener of IK-ATP; (5) sustained ischaemia after 10 min perfusion with 20 microM glibenclamide without preconditioning. RESULTS: Uncoupling started at 15.0(SEM 0.7) min of ischaemia in the control group and at 22.8(1.5) min after preconditioning (p < 0.001 v control group). Blocking IK-ATP during the preconditioning protocol with glibenclamide abolished the delay of uncoupling: onset was at 14.7(1.2) min. Activation of IK-ATP with cromakalim resulted in uncoupling at 23.3(1.9) min (p < 0.002 v control). Glibenclamide without preconditioning had no effect on uncoupling: onset was at 15.6(1.0) min. APD80 during ischaemia was significantly shorter in the preconditioning and cromakalim groups than in the control group from 5 min of ischaemia onward. In the preconditioning+glibenclamide group and the glibenclamide group APD80 was at no point significantly different from the control group. Conduction velocity during ischaemia decreased to about 70% of baseline after 10 min and was not different between the five groups. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Preconditioning delays the onset of electrical uncoupling; (2) the protective effect of preconditioning may be caused by activation of the IK-ATP channel; (3) the protective effect is associated with reduction of action potential duration, but not with changes of conduction velocity.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1993

Interaction of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system on ventricular refractoriness assessed by local fibrillation intervals in the canine heart.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to assess the effects of autonomic nerve stimulation on local ventricular refractoriness by measuring local ventricular fibrillation intervals. METHODS: In 10 dogs on cardiopulmonary bypass, ventricular fibrillation intervals were recorded simultaneously at up to 32 sites before and after neural stimulation. In four dogs (group 1) the response to bilateral stellate ganglion stimulation was measured before and after bilateral cervical vagotomy. In three dogs (group 2) bilateral stellate ganglion stimulation, vagal nerve stimulation, and combined vagal and stellate ganglia stimulation were performed. In three dogs (group 3) the same protocol was applied after total decentralisation of the autonomic nervous system. RESULTS: Bilateral stellate ganglion stimulation shortened the ventricular fibrillation interval at 44-50% of myocardial sites before and after vagotomy, whereas prolongation of the interval was observed at 14-18% of the sites. At higher stimulus strength shortening of the interval was measured at 85% of the sites in the intact and decentralised groups. No prolongation was observed. The shortening was largest in the decentralised group (11.1 ms). Dispersion in refractoriness increased in hearts from all groups, but not in each individual heart. Left, right, or bilateral vagal stimulation was without effect at about 75% of the tested sites. The fact that the response to autonomic nerve stimulation varies from site to site warrants our approach of simultaneous recordings at multiple sites. Dispersion in refractoriness was not affected by vagal stimulation. Combined autonomic stimulation had approximately the same effect on dispersion in refractoriness as bilateral stellate ganglion stimulation alone. However, vagal stimulation attenuated the responses to bilateral stellate ganglion stimulation by some 20% in the decentralised group. CONCLUSIONS: Vagal stimulation has minor effects on ventricular refractoriness, but this is not due to sparse innervation, since vagal stimulation is able to mitigate the effects of sympathetic stimulation in decentralised hearts.

Animals↗