Effects of interleukin-6 on the bio-electric activity of rat atrial tissue under normal conditions and during gradual stretching

Immunobiology. 2015 Sep;220(9):1107-12. doi: 10.1016/j.imbio.2015.05.003. Epub 2015 May 11.

Abstract

Using the micro-electrode technique we studied the effects of interleukin-6 on bio-electric activity of rat atrial tissue under normal conditions and after gradual stretching. It was shown that IL-6 caused increasing of the duration of the action potential at the levels of 25, 50, and 90% re-polarization. The hump-like depolarization at APD90 appeared 7-10 min after initial stretching and transformed into single extra-potentials after tension removing. Perfusion with IL-6 for more than 20 min led to the appearance of atrial fibrillation even with the application of slight tension. Close observation of the IL-6 induced mechanisms and stretch induced APD alteration, confirmed the existence of a tight link between examined cytokine and stretch induced mechanisms.

Keywords: Action potential; Atrium; Heart; Interleukin-6; Stretch.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Atrial Fibrillation / physiopathology
  • Atrial Function / drug effects*
  • Electric Conductivity
  • Gadolinium / pharmacology
  • Heart Atria / drug effects*
  • Interleukin-6 / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Microelectrodes
  • Myocardial Contraction / physiology
  • Perfusion
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar

Substances

  • Interleukin-6
  • Gadolinium