Changes Of Stretch-Activated Channel-Transient Receptor Potential Channels In Atrial Myocardium Of Rabbits With Heart Failure

Transient receptor potential channels (TRPC) are shown recently to play an important role in the development of heart failure and arrhythmia. The purpose of the present study was to observe the changes of gene expression and protein level of transient receptor potential channel in isolated atrial myocardium after heart failure in rabbits. Twenty rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: control group (n=10, sham-operation rabbits: 5) and heart failure (n=10) group. Chronic heart failure model was produced by combined aortic regurgitation and coarctation of the abdominal aorta. Cardiac structure and function were detected via echocardiography 10 weeks later. The mRNA expression and protein level of TRPC1 of left atrial appendage were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The left atria diameter, inter-ventricular septum, left ventricular post-wall dimension, left ventricular end diastolic and systolic diameter were also increased markedly in heart failure rabbit s, but their ejection fraction and left ventricular shorten fraction were decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression of TRPC1 mRNA and protein in heart failure group were markedly increased (P<0.05). The mRNA and protein expression of TRPC1 in atrial myocardia of rabbits with heart failure was significantly increased. TRPC1 may play a role in the vulnerability to atrial arrhythmias in dilated atria with heart failure.