Background and methods-Perturbations in energetic metabolism and impaired atrial contractility may play an important role in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). Besides, atrial stretch is commonly associated with AF. However, the atrial energetics of stretch-related AF are poorly understood. Here, we measured indicators of energy metabolism during acute-stretch related AF. PCr, adenine nucleotides and derivatives concentrations as well as the activity of the F 0 F 1 -ATPase and Na,K-ATPase were obtained after one hour of stretch and/or AF in isolated rabbit hearts and compared to control hearts without stretch and AF.

In a model of acute stretch-related AF, dofetilide, flecainide and BRL-32872 terminated AF and prevented its immediate reinduction after having comparatively prolonged AFCL and ERPs. These comparative results suggest that those drugs are equally efficacious, albeit with different mechanisms, in the setting of acute atrial stretch.