Discussion
Thus, inter-atrial differences are increased in paroxysmal AF and affected by the mechanical load that may contribute to the maintenance and progression of AF.
Methods
We investigated the contractile function of single isolated CM from LA and RA using a 7-day acetylcholine (ACh)-CaCl2 AF model in rats. We compared auxotonic force, sarcomere length dynamics, cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]i) transients, intracellular ROS and NO production in LA and RA CM, and analyzed the phosphorylation levels of contractile proteins and actin-myosin interaction using an in vitro motility assay.
Results
AF resulted in more prominent structural and functional changes in LA myocardium, reducing sarcomere shortening amplitude, and velocity of sarcomere relengthening in mechanically non-loaded LA CM, which was associated with the increased ROS production, decreased NO production, reduced myofibrillar content, and decreased phosphorylation of cardiac myosin binding protein C and troponin I. However, in mechanically loaded CM, AF depressed the auxotonic force amplitude and kinetics in RA CM, while force characteristics were preserved in LA CM.