Journal
JOURNAL OF THE RENIN-ANGIOTENSIN-ALDOSTERONE SYSTEM
Volume 7, Issue 4, Pages 201-205Publisher
SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
DOI: 10.3317/jraas.2006.038
Keywords
cell communication; failing heart; chronic angiotensin II AT(1); receptor blockade; fibrosis; impulse conduction
Categories
Funding
- NCRR NIH HHS [G12 RR 03051] Funding Source: Medline
- NHLBI NIH HHS [HL 34148] Funding Source: Medline
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Introduction. The influence of chronic administration of losartan on gap junction conductance (gj), conduction velocity and interstitial fibrosis was investigated in the failing heart of 4-month-old cardiomyopathic hamsters (TO-2). After two months of administration of losartan (25 mg/kg/day/po) the number of cell pairs showing very low values of gj (2-8 nS) was significantly reduced whereas the group of cell pairs with larger values of gj (18-45 nS) was significantly increased. The conduction velocity measured with intracellular microelectrodes in the wall of the left ventricle was enhanced from 38 2.3 cm/s (n=25) (control) to 49 +/- 2 cm/s (n=24) (p<0.05) after losartan administration. Moreover, the number of ventricular fibres showing non-propagated action potentials was significantly decreased (p<0.05) by losartan. The % area of interstitial fibrosis measured in the wall of the left ventricle was reduced from 22 +/- 1.4% (n=18) to 14 +/- 1.3% (n=18) (p<0.05) after losartan administration. Conclusion. Chronic blockade of angiotensin II type 1 receptors increased gj in the failing heart. Moreover, the conduction velocity was enhanced in part by the increase of gj and in part by the decrease of interstitial fibrosis and structural remodelling.
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