Subcutaneous nerve stimulation reduces sympathetic nerve activity in ambulatory dogs with myocardial infarction.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Subcutaneous nerve stimulation (ScNS) remodels the stellate ganglion and reduces stellate ganglion nerve activity (SGNA) in dogs. Acute myocardial infarction (MI) increases SGNA through nerve sprouting.

OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that ScNS remodels the stellate ganglion and reduces SGNA in ambulatory dogs with acute MI.

METHODS:

In the experimental group, a radio transmitter was implanted during the first sterile surgery to record nerve activity and an electrocardiogram, followed by a second sterile surgery to create MI. Dogs then underwent ScNS for 2 months. The average SGNA (aSGNA) was compared with that in a historical control group (n = 9), with acute MI monitored for 2 months without ScNS.

RESULTS:

In the experimental group, the baseline aSGNA and heart rate were 4.08±0.35 μV and 98±12 beats/min, respectively. They increased within 1 week after MI to 6.91±1.91 μV (P=.007) and 107±10 beats/min (P=.028), respectively. ScNS reduced aSGNA to 3.46±0.44 μV (P<.039) and 2.14±0.50 μV (P<.001) at 4 and 8 weeks, respectively, after MI. In comparison, aSGNA at 4 and 8 weeks in dogs with MI but no ScNS was 8.26±6.31 μV (P=.005) and 10.82±7.86 μV (P=0002), respectively. Immunostaining showed confluent areas of remodeling in bilateral stellate ganglia and a high percentage of tyrosine hydroxylase-negative ganglion cells. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling was positive in 26.61%±11.54% of ganglion cells in the left stellate ganglion and 15.94%±3.62% of ganglion cells in the right stellate ganglion.

CONCLUSION:

ScNS remodels the stellate ganglion, reduces SGNA, and suppresses cardiac nerve sprouting after acute MI.

• Authors: Yuan Yuan, Ye Zhao, Johnson Wong, Wei-Chung Tsai, Zhaolei Jiang, Ryan A Kabir, Seongwook Han, Changyu Shen, Michael C Fishbein, Lan S Chen, Zhenhui Chen, Thomas H Everett 4th, Peng-Sheng Chen
• Journal: Heart rhythm (Heart Rhythm) Vol. 17 Issue 7 Pg. 1167-1175 (07 2020) ISSN: 1556-3871 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 32068184 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Animals
• Disease Models, Animal
• Dogs
• Electrocardiography
• Heart Rate (physiology)
• Monitoring, Physiologic (methods)
• Myocardial Infarction (physiopathology, therapy)
• Sympathetic Nervous System (physiopathology)
• Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation (methods)