Abstract 14612: Stabilizing Ryanodine Receptor With Dantrolene Prevents Binge Alcohol Induced Atrial Fibrillation in Rats

• Published in: Circulation (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2019-11, Vol.140 (Suppl_1 Suppl 1), p.A14612-A14612
• Main Authors: Greco, Lisa V, Migirov, Allan, Meshoyrer, Daniel I, Li, Ying, Cohen, Todd J, Zhang, Youhua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0009-7322; 1524-4539
• DOI: 10.1161/circ.140.suppl_1.14612

IntroductionBinge drinking is a common problem in the United States, affecting approximately 38 million adults. Binge drinking is a known independent risk factor for cardiac arrhythmias, especially atrial fibrillation (AF), known as holiday heart syndrome. A recent report indicated that alcohol-induced AF is caused by Ca2+ leak through cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) dysfunction. In this study we investigated whether stabilizing RyR2 with dantrolene treatment can prevent alcohol enhanced AF in rats.HypothesisBy stabilizing RyR2, dantrolene treatment can prevent binge alcohol enhanced AF in rats.MethodsA binge drinking model was established in adult rats of both sexes by giving alcohol (2g/kg, IP) every other day for 4 times. This study consisted of following 3 groupsBinge alcohol group (received alcohol injection, n=10), Non-alcohol control group (received saline injection instead of alcohol, n=9) and Dantrolene treated group (received dantrolene 10mg/kg, IP, before alcohol injection, n=10). In vivo atrial electrophysiology and AF inducibility test were studied the following day after the last injection. Cardiac function with echocardiography and left ventricular hemodynamics were measured before the AF inducibility test.ResultsExcluding one rat that died suddenly in the binge alcohol group, all animals completed the study. Alcohol did not affect cardiac function and LV hemodynamics. However, alcohol significantly increased AF inducibility (1/9 in control versus 8/9 in binge alcohol group, p=0.001) and AF duration (figure). Dantrolene treatment significantly reduced both AF inducibility (1/6 in alcohol+dantrolene group, p=0.011 versus binge group, not statistically different from control animals) and AF duration.ConclusionsBinge alcohol significantly increases AF inducibility in rats. Stabilizing RyR2 with dantrolene treatment can significantly decrease/prevent AF in this animal model.