Evaluation of right atrium structure and function in a rat model of monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension: Exploring the possible antiarrhythmic properties of amiodarone

Atrial arrhythmias (AA) are common in pulmonary hypertension (PH) and are closely associated with poor clinical outcomes. One of the most studied models to investigate PH is the rat model of monocrotaline (MCT) induced PH (MCT-PH). To date, little is known about right atrium (RA) function in the MCT-PH model and the propensity of RA to develop arrhythmias. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the function of the RA of control (CTRL) and MCT treated rats, and the ability of amiodarone, a classical antiarrhythmic, to prevent the occurrence of AA in the RA in MCT-PH rats. RA function was studied in MCT-PH rats 20 days after a single subcutaneous injection of MCT 50 mg/kg. The histological results indicated the presence of RA and right ventricular hypertrophy. Surface electrocardiogram demonstrated increased P wave duration, PR wave duration and QT interval in MCT rats. RA from MCT rats were more susceptible to develop ex vivo burst pacing arrhythmias when compared to CTRL. Intriguingly, amiodarone in clinical relevant concentration was not able to prevent the occurrence arrhythmias in RA from MCT-PH animals. Hence, we conclude that the rat model of MCT-PH impairs RA structure and function, and acute exposure of RA to amiodarone in clinical relevant concentration is not able to attenuate the onset of arrhythmias in the ex vivo RA preparation.