The middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion model was adapted to create subacute brain ischemia in rats with normal cardiac function. Invasive electrophysiologic studies and ex vivo optical mapping were performed to evaluate the altered electrophysiological parameters and Ca2+ handling properties.

(A) Timeline of the MCAO operation, drug treatment, and the following ex vivo cardiac optical mapping. (B) Representative ECG recordings of isolated heart during sinus rhythm. (C) Representative images of conduction in Sham, Model, WK-L, WK-M, WK-H and Met groups under the burst pacing at S1S1. (D) AERP/APD of each group. (E) Statistical results of AF duration in each group. Values were expressed as mean ± SD (n=3-5, *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01, Model vs. Sham; #P < 0.05 and ##P < 0.01, Model vs. WK) (F) Incidence of atrial ectopy or fibrillation for each S1 interval. (G) Sinus node recovery duration of each group under different stimulation frequencies (100-50 ms).

Theranostics(IF 13.3)

Liang Y, Wang G, Fan S, et. Brain-to-heart cholinergic synapse-calcium signaling mediates ischemic stroke-induced atrial fibrillation. Theranostics. 2024 Oct 7;14(17):6625-6651. doi: 10.7150/thno.99065.