Background Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) commonly coexist with cardiomyopathy. Recently, PVCs have been identified as possible cause of cardiomyopathy. We developed a PVC-induced cardiomyopathy animal model using a novel premature pacing algorithm to assess timeframe and reversibility of this cardiomyopathy and examine the associated histopathological abnormalities. Methods and Results Thirteen mongrel dogs were implanted with a specially programmed pacemaker capable of simulating ventricular extrasystoles. Animals were randomly assigned to either 12 weeks of bigeminal PVCs (n=7) or no PVCs (control, n=6). Continuous 24-hr Holter corroborated ventricular bigeminy in the PVC group (PVC 49.8% vs. control <0.01%, P < 0.0001). After 12 weeks, only the PVC group developed cardiomyopathy with a significant reduction in left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (PVC 39.7±5.4% vs. control 60.7±3.8%, P<0.0001) and an increase in LV end-systolic dimension (LVESD, PVC 33.3±3.5mm vs. control 23.7±3.6mm, P<0.001). Ventricular effective refractory period showed a trend to prolong in the PVC group. PVC-induced cardiomyopathy was resolved within 2-4 weeks after discontinuation of PVCs. No inflammation, fibrosis, or changes in apoptosis and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation were observed with PVC-induced cardiomyopathy. Conclusions This novel PVC animal model demonstrates that frequent PVCs alone can induce a reversible form of cardiomyopathy in otherwise structurally normal hearts. PVC-induced CM lacks gross histopathological and mitochondrial abnormalities seen in other canine models of CM.

Reflex sympathoexcitation mediated by cardiac sympathetic afferents can be elicited in dogs. However, these responses are significant only during ischemia that is transmural and involves the superficial epicardial layers of the left ventricle.

These data suggest that parasympathetic influences on donor heart rate are absent in the majority of patients up to 96 months after cardiac transplantation.