Blockade of Melatonin Receptors Abolishes Its Antiarrhythmic Effect and Slows Ventricular Conduction in Rat Hearts.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Melatonin | decrease | reperfusion VT/VF incidence | anesthetized rats | - | reduced | #1 |
Melatonin | decrease | ischemia-related conduction slowing | anesthetized rats | - | prevented | #2 |
Melatonin | no change | total connexin43 (Cx43) level | anesthetized rats | - | did not change | #3 |
Melatonin | no change | oxidative stress markers | anesthetized rats | - | did not change | #4 |
Melatonin | increase | content of a phosphorylated Cx43 variant (P-Cx43) | anesthetized rats | - | increased | #5 |
Melatonin has been reported to cause myocardial electrophysiological changes and prevent ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation (VT/VF) in ischemia and reperfusion. We sought to identify electrophysiological targets responsible for the melatonin antiarrhythmic action and to explore whether melatonin receptor-dependent pathways or its antioxidative properties are essential for these effects. Ischemia was induced in anesthetized rats given a placebo, melatonin, and/or luzindole (MT1/MT2 melatonin receptor blocker), and epicardial mapping with reperfusion VT/VFs assessment was performed. The oxidative stress assessment and Western blotting analysis were performed in the explanted hearts. Transmembrane potentials and ionic currents were recorded in cardiomyocytes with melatonin and/or luzindole application. Melatonin reduced reperfusion VT/VF incidence associated with local activation time in logistic regression analysis. Melatonin prevented ischemia-related conduction slowing and did not change the total connexin43 (Cx43) level or oxidative stress markers, but it increased the content of a phosphorylated Cx43 variant (P-Cx43