Chronotropic Responses to Cardiomodulatory Agents in the Giant danio Heart

Chronotropic Responses to Cardiomodulatory Agents in the Giant danio Heart

Document Type

Abstract

Publication Date

10-2-2019

Abstract

The mammalian heart is regulated via both extrinsic and intrinsic nervous plexuses containing both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve fibers. The physiological responses that are observed in mammalian hearts are facilitated by neurotransmitter and receptors that create either an inhibitory or an excitatory response in the cardiac cells. Previous studies in our lab have shown that the giant danio (D. Malabaricus) can be an important model for the study of cardiac developmental and regeneration. Whether the Giant danio can also serve as a model to study cardiac physiological control is not clear. The purpose of this study was to determine the chronotropic responses in the giant danio heart to various cardiomodulatory pharmacological agents. Using an ex vivo electrophysiological approach, we found that isoproterenol significantly increased heart rate, whereas muscarine and acetylcholine significantly decreased heart rate similar to that seen in mammalian and zebrafish hearts. However, in contrast to zebrafish, we found that treatment with nicotine varied, and did not have significant chronotropic effects. Our findings thus far suggest that cardiac physiology of the GD is comparable to that of mammals, and that the ex vivo GD heart preparation could serve as a model for investigations of comparative cardiac electrophysiology.

Project Mentor

Prof. P. Lafontant, PhD

Funding and Acknowledgements

Funding: National Institutes of Health Grant

Chronotropic Responses to Cardiomodulatory Agents in the Giant danio Heart

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