Endothelin Modulates Rhythm Disturbances and Autonomic Responses to Acute Emotional Stress in Rats
The ubiquitous peptide endothelin is currently under investigation as a modulatory factor of autonomic responses to acute emotional stress. Baseline plasma levels of endothelin alter blood pressure responses, but it remains unclear whether autonomic activity and arrhythmogenesis (i.e., brady- or tac...
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| author | Eleni-Taxiarchia Mouchtouri Thomas Konstantinou Panagiotis Lekkas Alexandra Lianopoulou Zoi Kotsaridou Iordanis Mourouzis Constantinos Pantos Theofilos M. Kolettis |
| author_facet | Eleni-Taxiarchia Mouchtouri Thomas Konstantinou Panagiotis Lekkas Alexandra Lianopoulou Zoi Kotsaridou Iordanis Mourouzis Constantinos Pantos Theofilos M. Kolettis |
| author_sort | Eleni-Taxiarchia Mouchtouri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The ubiquitous peptide endothelin is currently under investigation as a modulatory factor of autonomic responses to acute emotional stress. Baseline plasma levels of endothelin alter blood pressure responses, but it remains unclear whether autonomic activity and arrhythmogenesis (i.e., brady- or tachyarrhythmias) are affected. We recorded sympathetic and vagal indices (derived from heart rate variability analysis), rhythm disturbances, voluntary motion, and systolic blood pressure after acute emotional stress in conscious rats with implanted telemetry devices. Two strains were compared, namely wild-type and ET<sub>B</sub>-deficient rats, the latter displaying elevated plasma endothelin. No differences in heart rate or blood pressure were evident, but sympathetic responses were blunted in ET<sub>B</sub>-deficient rats, contrasting prompt activation in wild-type rats. Vagal withdrawal was observed in both strains at the onset of stress, but vagal activity was subsequently restored in ET<sub>B</sub>-deficient rats, accompanied by low voluntary motion during recovery. Reflecting such distinct autonomic patterns, frequent premature ventricular contractions were recorded in wild-type rats, as opposed to sinus pauses in ET<sub>B</sub>-deficient rats. Thus, chronically elevated plasma endothelin levels blunt autonomic responses to acute emotional stress, resulting in vagal dominance and bradyarrhythmias. Our study provides further insights into the pathophysiology of stress-induced tachyarrhythmias and syncope. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:00:55Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:00:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-c120318f98874e29859b87aab06429c02023-11-24T14:30:15ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372023-11-011211140110.3390/biology12111401Endothelin Modulates Rhythm Disturbances and Autonomic Responses to Acute Emotional Stress in RatsEleni-Taxiarchia Mouchtouri0Thomas Konstantinou1Panagiotis Lekkas2Alexandra Lianopoulou3Zoi Kotsaridou4Iordanis Mourouzis5Constantinos Pantos6Theofilos M. Kolettis7Department of Cardiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, GreeceDepartment of Cardiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, GreeceCardiovascular Research Institute, 45500 Ioannina, GreeceSchool of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 10447 Athens, GreeceSchool of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 10447 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Pharmacology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Pharmacology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Cardiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, GreeceThe ubiquitous peptide endothelin is currently under investigation as a modulatory factor of autonomic responses to acute emotional stress. Baseline plasma levels of endothelin alter blood pressure responses, but it remains unclear whether autonomic activity and arrhythmogenesis (i.e., brady- or tachyarrhythmias) are affected. We recorded sympathetic and vagal indices (derived from heart rate variability analysis), rhythm disturbances, voluntary motion, and systolic blood pressure after acute emotional stress in conscious rats with implanted telemetry devices. Two strains were compared, namely wild-type and ET<sub>B</sub>-deficient rats, the latter displaying elevated plasma endothelin. No differences in heart rate or blood pressure were evident, but sympathetic responses were blunted in ET<sub>B</sub>-deficient rats, contrasting prompt activation in wild-type rats. Vagal withdrawal was observed in both strains at the onset of stress, but vagal activity was subsequently restored in ET<sub>B</sub>-deficient rats, accompanied by low voluntary motion during recovery. Reflecting such distinct autonomic patterns, frequent premature ventricular contractions were recorded in wild-type rats, as opposed to sinus pauses in ET<sub>B</sub>-deficient rats. Thus, chronically elevated plasma endothelin levels blunt autonomic responses to acute emotional stress, resulting in vagal dominance and bradyarrhythmias. Our study provides further insights into the pathophysiology of stress-induced tachyarrhythmias and syncope.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/11/1401acute emotional stresssympathetic activityvagal activityendothelinbradyarrhythmiastachyarrhythmias |
| spellingShingle | Eleni-Taxiarchia Mouchtouri Thomas Konstantinou Panagiotis Lekkas Alexandra Lianopoulou Zoi Kotsaridou Iordanis Mourouzis Constantinos Pantos Theofilos M. Kolettis Endothelin Modulates Rhythm Disturbances and Autonomic Responses to Acute Emotional Stress in Rats Biology acute emotional stress sympathetic activity vagal activity endothelin bradyarrhythmias tachyarrhythmias |
| title | Endothelin Modulates Rhythm Disturbances and Autonomic Responses to Acute Emotional Stress in Rats |
| title_full | Endothelin Modulates Rhythm Disturbances and Autonomic Responses to Acute Emotional Stress in Rats |
| title_fullStr | Endothelin Modulates Rhythm Disturbances and Autonomic Responses to Acute Emotional Stress in Rats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Endothelin Modulates Rhythm Disturbances and Autonomic Responses to Acute Emotional Stress in Rats |
| title_short | Endothelin Modulates Rhythm Disturbances and Autonomic Responses to Acute Emotional Stress in Rats |
| title_sort | endothelin modulates rhythm disturbances and autonomic responses to acute emotional stress in rats |
| topic | acute emotional stress sympathetic activity vagal activity endothelin bradyarrhythmias tachyarrhythmias |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/11/1401 |
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