Effect of streptomycin on electrophysiological changes caused by rising of left ventricular afterload in rabbits

AIM: The aim of this study was to study the changes of rabbit heart electrophysiological properties caused by increasing left ventricular afterload, and to assess the effects of streptomycin or verapamil on these changes. METHODS: The rabbit heart preparation in situ was used, and the afterload of left ventricle was increased by clipping in part the root of ascending aorta. The changes of heart electrophysiological parameters including relative refractory period (RRP), effective refractory period (ERP), monophasic action potential duration (MAPD₉₀) and ventricular fibrillation threshold(VFT) were observed before and after altering the afterload of left ventricle and were compared in the absence and presence of streptomycin or verapamil. RESULTS: The rising of left ventricular afterload led to shortening of RRP, ERP and MAPD₉₀, and to descent of VFT (P＜0.01). Streptomycin inhibited these changes of heart electrophysiological parameters caused by elevation of left ventricular afterload. In contrast, verapamil had no effects on the afterload-related changes of RRP, ERP and MAPD₉₀ (P＞0.05) except increasing of VFT (P＜0.01). CONCLUSION: The electrophysilogical effect of streptomycin appears consistent with inhibition of stretch-activated ion channels, suggesting that the stretch-activated ion channels might be involved in the afterload-related changes of heart electrophysiological properties.