Structural and Electrical Myocardial Remodeling in a Rodent Model of Depression

OBJECTIVE: Despite a well-documented association between stress and depression with cardiac morbidity and mortality, there is no satisfactory explanation for the mechanisms linking affective and cardiac disorders. This study investigated cardiac electrophysiological properties in an animal model of depression. METHODS: Depression-relevant physiological and behavioral parameters were measured in adult male wild-type rats during and after a period of intermittent social defeat stress (n = 12) or empty cage exposure (control, n = 11). Nine days after the last defeat/empty cage exposure, high-definition epicardial mapping was performed under anesthesia. RESULTS: Stressed animals versus controls displayed a larger reduction in the circadian amplitude of heart rate (-32% [3%] versus -13 [2%]; p = .001) and body temperature (-33% [4%] versus -5% [2%]; p = .001) rhythms, had smaller body weight gain (+11% [1%] versus +17% [1%]; p < .001), and showed a larger reduction in sucrose solution intake (-19% [6%] versus -7% [4%]; p = .006). Epicardial mapping analysis revealed a decrease in the transversal conduction velocity of the wavefront (0.23 [0.0] versus 0.27 [0.1] m/s; p = .02) and a shortening of the effective refractory period (86.8 [2.1] versus 95.9 [3.0] milliseconds; p = .01) in stressed animals. Upon killing, moderate left ventricular fibrosis was observed in the stressed group. CONCLUSIONS: Intermittent social stress procedure is associated with depression-like symptoms and altered myocardial electrical stability in a potentially proarrhythmic manner. In particular, reduced myocardial refractoriness and impaired conduction, which are considered major determinants of arrhythmogenesis, represent possible mechanisms underlying cardiac vulnerability

Anesthesia · Cardiac Electrophysiology · Cardiology · Depression (economics) · Effective refractory period · Electrophysiology · Nerve conduction velocity · Refractory period · Cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias · Cardiac Fibrosis and Remodeling · Endocrinology · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Stress Responses and Cortisol

• Depression and Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death and Arrhythmias

  Shaobo Shi, Tao Liu et al.•Psychosomatic Medicine•2017

  Incluir item

• Depression

  Open Access•Roger D Porsolt, Manuel Pichon et al.•Nature•1977

  Incluir item

• Hour Autonomic Dysfunction and Depressive Behaviors in an Animal Model of Social Isolation

  Angela J Grippo, C Sue Carter et al.•Psychosomatic Medicine•2011

  Incluir item

• Depression as a Risk Factor for Coronary Artery Disease

  Heather S Lett, James A Blumenthal et al.•Psychosomatic Medicine•2004

  Incluir item

• Depression as a Risk Factor for Mortality in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease

  Jürgen Barth, Martina Schumacher et al.•Psychosomatic Medicine•2004

  Incluir item