Effects of Sleep Disturbance on the Inducibility of Atrial Fibrillation in Rats

Background and Objective The association of sleep disturbance (SD) with cardiovascular disease is through its induction of autonomic dysregulation and inflammation, which also could be important pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, no study has fully elucidated the causal relationship between SD and AF. We investigated whether SD influences AF vulnerability in an in vivo rat model. Methods We divided 8-week-old Wister rats into 5 groups: 1) control, 2) 3-day SD, 3) 7-day SD, 4) 3-day sham SD, and 5) 7-day sham SD (n = 5 in each group), using the multiple platform method to create SD. We measured baseline heart rate, blood pressure (BP), and AF inducibility via burst atrial pacing (30 mA, 40 Hz, 30 seconds) by means of a transoesophageal electrode and used Sirius red staining to assess collagen deposition in the atriums. Results Baseline heart rate, diastolic BP and AF inducibility were significantly higher in the SD groups than in the control and sham condition groups (p < 0.05). However, there were no differences between the 3- and 7-day SD groups. Systolic BP and induced AF duration did not statistically differ among any of the experimental groups. The Sirius red staining showed no differences in collagen deposition among any of the experimental groups. Conclusions SD resulted in increase of AF inducibility in SD rats, suggesting that SD provides an atrial substrate for AF vulnerability, regardless of the disturbance period. However, induced AF duration showed no significant differences in SD rats.