Examining Pro-Arrhythmic Changes in Heart Rate Under Augmented Parasympathetic Stimulation

Examining Pro-Arrhythmic Changes in Heart Rate Under Augmented Parasympathetic Stimulation

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

10-1-2025

Abstract

Brugada syndrome is a congenital heart disease characterized by an increased susceptibility to potentially fatal arrhythmias when people are resting or sleeping, suggesting a potential link between arrhythmia risk and parasympathetic signaling. To investigate the role of autonomic signaling in Brugada syndrome, we utilized a mouse model of Brugada syndrome (Scn5a+/- mice). We measured the electrocardiographic (ECG) properties of wild-type (WT) and Scn5a+/- mice under conditions that augment parasympathetic signaling to the heart. We initially studied the electrocardiographic (ECG) properties of WT and Scn5a+/- mice housed at room temperature (25 °C) and thermoneutrality (30 °C), as switching mice to thermoneutral housing decreases sympathetic signaling (Swoap et al., 2008). Because the daily rhythm in the heart rate reflects changes in autonomic regulation of the heart in response to feeding behavior, we studied the ECG properties of WT and Scn5a+/- after inverting their feeding rhythms by restricting food access to the light cycle (Ono et al., 2024).

Department

Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

Project Mentor

Abhilash Prabhat, Brain P. Delisle

Funding and Acknowledgements

American Heart Association SURE Program

Examining Pro-Arrhythmic Changes in Heart Rate Under Augmented Parasympathetic Stimulation

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