• Hong-Tao Wang, Zhi-Li Li, Bo-Yuan Fan, Fei-Fei Su, Jin-Bo Zhao, Jun Ren, and Qiang-Sun Zheng.
• Division of Cardiology, Tangdu Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
• J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.. 2014 Jul 1;148(1):73-6.

ObjectiveThe major atrial ganglionated plexi (GP) can initiate atrial fibrillation alone without any contribution from the extrinsic cardiac nervous system. However, if stimulation of the ventricular GP, especially the aortic root GP, can provoke atrial fibrillation (AF) alone is unknown. Our study was designed to investigate the independent role of aortic root GP activity in the initiation of AF.MethodsIn 10 Langendorff-perfused canine hearts, the atrial effective refractory period, pulmonary vein effective refractory period, and percentage of AF induced were measured at baseline and during aortic root GP stimulation.ResultsStimulation of the aortic root GP shortened the atrial effective refractory period from 128 ± 10 ms at baseline to 103 ± 15 ms (P < .05) and shortened the pulmonary vein effective refractory period from 139 ± 14 ms to 114 ± 15 ms (P < .05). Furthermore, the percentage of AF induced in the 10 isolated hearts increased from 10% at baseline to 90% during aortic root GP stimulation (P < .05).ConclusionsIn Langendorff-perfused canine hearts, stimulation of the aortic root GP provokes AF in the absence of any extrinsic cardiac nerve activity. The aortic root GP is an important element in the intrinsic neuronal loop that can increase the risk of AF in isolated heart models.Copyright © 2014 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

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