Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Median nerve stimulation reduces ventricular arrhythmias induced by dorsomedial hypothalamic stimulation

  • Published:
Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

This study tested the hypothesis that median nerve stimulation (MNS) prevents ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) induced by dorsomedial hypothalamus stimulation (DMHS) and investigated the electrophysiological mechanisms underlying the anti-arrhythmic effects of MNS by recording left stellate ganglion activity (LSGA).

Methods

Eighteen rabbits were anesthetized, the median nerve was anchored by stimulating electrodes, and a bipolar electrode was implanted into the LSG to record nerve activity. The DMH was stimulated to induce arrhythmia. All animals underwent six repetitions of DMHS (30 s). The 18 rabbits were divided into the following 3 groups: a control group, which underwent only DMHS (n = 6); an MNS group, which underwent MNS during both the third and fourth DMHS repetitions (n = 6); and an LSGA-recording group, for which LSGA was recorded at baseline, immediately following DMHS and again immediately following MNS and DMHS (n = 6).

Results

Repeated DMHS-induced multiple VAs, in the rabbits. Compared with the DMHS-only group, the concurrent administration of MNS during DMHS significantly reduced the incidence of VAs (7 ± 3 and 9 ± 2 beats for the third and fourth DMHS + MNS repetitions vs. 29 ± 8 and 27 ± 9 beats for the first two DMHS repetitions, p < 0.05). The total duration of the abnormal discharges of the LSG (ADLSG) following MNS and DMHS was significantly reduced compared with that of the DMHS-only group (40 ± 18 vs. 14 ± 6 s, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

MNS reduced VAs induced by DMHS, which is thought to be mediated through suppressing of ADLSG.

New and noteworthy

Median nerve electrical stimulation prevented ventricular arrhythmias induced by DMHS through the mechanism of suppressing abnormal discharges of left stellate ganglion.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Stecker EC, Reinier K, Marijon E, Narayanan K, Teodorescu C, Uy-Evanado A, et al. Public health burden of sudden cardiac death in the United States. [Multicenter Study Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural]. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2014;7(2):212–7.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Lampert R, Jain D, Burg MM, Batsford WP, McPherson CA. Destabilizing effects of mental stress on ventricular arrhythmias in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. Circulation. 2000;101(2):158–64.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Leor J, Poole WK, Kloner RA. Sudden cardiac death triggered by an earthquake. N Engl J Med. 1996;334(7):413–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. DiMicco JA, Samuels BC, Zaretskaia MV, Zaretsky DV. The dorsomedial hypothalamus and the response to stress: part renaissance, part revolution. [Research Support, U.S. Gov’t, P.H.S. Review]. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2002;71(3):469–80.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Fontes MA, Xavier CH, Marins FR, Limborco-Filho M, Vaz GC, Muller-Ribeiro FC, et al. Emotional stress and sympathetic activity: contribution of dorsomedial hypothalamus to cardiac arrhythmias. Brain Res. 2014;1554:49–58.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Fontes MA, Xavier CH, de Menezes RC, Dimicco JA. The dorsomedial hypothalamus and the central pathways involved in the cardiovascular response to emotional stress. Neuroscience. 2011;184:64–74.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Zaretskaia MV, Zaretsky DV, Shekhar A, DiMicco JA. Chemical stimulation of the dorsomedial hypothalamus evokes non-shivering thermogenesis in anesthetized rats. [Research Support, U.S. Gov’t, P.H.S.]. Brain Res. 2002;928(1-2):113–25.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Andersson S. The functional background in acupuncture effects. Scand J Rehabil Med Suppl. 1993;29:31–60.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Li P, Pitsillides KF, Rendig SV, Pan HL, Longhurst JC. Reversal of reflex-induced myocardial ischemia by median nerve stimulation: a feline model of electroacupuncture. [Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov’t Research Support, U.S. Gov’t, P.H.S.]. Circulation. 1998;97(12):1186–94.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Zhou W, Ko Y, Benharash P, Yamakawa K, Patel S, Ajijola OA, et al. Cardioprotection of electroacupuncture against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by modulation of cardiac norepinephrine release. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2012;302(9):H1818–1825.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Zhou X, Wolf PD, Smith WM, Blanchard SM, Ideker RE. Effects of peroneal nerve stimulation on hypothalamic stimulation-induced ventricular arrhythmias in rabbits. [Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov’t Research Support, U.S. Gov’t, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov’t, P.H.S.]. Am J Physiol. 1994;267(5 Pt 2):H2032–2041.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Sawyer CH, Everett JW, Green JD. The rabbit diencephalon in stereotaxic coordinates. J Comp Neurol. 1954;101(3):801–24.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Curtis MJ, Walker MJ. Quantification of arrhythmias using scoring systems: an examination of seven scores in an in vivo model of regional myocardial ischaemia. Cardiovasc Res. 1988;22(9):656–65.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Sidi A, Gehrig RT, Rush W, Davis RF. Left-sided stellate ganglion ablation or “rate-controlled” vagal nerve stimulation decreases regional myocardial metabolic impairment during acute ischemia in dogs. [Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov’t]. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 1995;9(1):50–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Lujan HL, Kramer VJ, DiCarlo SE. Electroacupuncture decreases the susceptibility to ventricular tachycardia in conscious rats by reducing cardiac metabolic demand. [Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural]. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2007;292(5):H2550–2555.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Zhang H, Liu L, Huang G, Zhou L, Wu W, Zhang T, et al. Protective effect of electroacupuncture at the Neiguan point in a rabbit model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. Can J Cardiol. 2009;25(6):359–63.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Ogawa M, Zhou S, Tan AY, Song J, Gholmieh G, Fishbein MC, et al. Left stellate ganglion and vagal nerve activity and cardiac arrhythmias in ambulatory dogs with pacing-induced congestive heart failure. [Comparative Study Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov’t]. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2007;50(4):335–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Shen MJ, Shinohara T, Park HW, Frick K, Ice DS, Choi EK, et al. Continuous low-level vagus nerve stimulation reduces stellate ganglion nerve activity and paroxysmal atrial tachyarrhythmias in ambulatory canines. [Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov’t]. Circulation. 2011;123(20):2204–12.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Zhou X, Vance FLT, Sims AL, Sreenan CM, Ideker RE. Prevention of high incidence of neurally mediated ventricular arrhythmias by afferent nerve stimulation in dogs. [Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov’t Research Support, U.S. Gov’t, P.H.S.]. Circulation. 2000;101(7):819–24.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Xavier CH, Beig MI, Ianzer D, Fontes MA, Nalivaiko E. Asymmetry in the control of cardiac performance by dorsomedial hypothalamus. [Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov’t]. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2013;304(8):R664–674.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Xavier CH, Nalivaiko E, Beig MI, Menezes GB, Cara DC, Campagnole-Santos MJ, et al. Functional asymmetry in the descending cardiovascular pathways from dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus. Neuroscience. 2009;164(3):1360–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 81270243 to Shu Zhang, 81300139 to Jingli Gu, 81441018 to Min Tang, and 1171088 to Ji-Min Cao) and Peking Union Medical College Innovation Fund (10023-1002-1008 to Shuang Zhao).

Author information

Author notes

    Authors and Affiliations

    1. State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Arrhythmia Center, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China

      Shuang Zhao, Min Tang, Jun Yu & Shu Zhang

    2. Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China

      Jingli Gu & Ji-Min Cao

    3. Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

      Kexin Yuan, Xiaoyang Long & Miaomiao Liu

    Authors
    1. Shuang Zhao
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    2. Min Tang
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    3. Kexin Yuan
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    4. Jingli Gu
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    5. Jun Yu
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    6. Xiaoyang Long
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    7. Miaomiao Liu
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    8. Ji-Min Cao
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    9. Shu Zhang
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    Corresponding authors

    Correspondence to Ji-Min Cao or Shu Zhang.

    Ethics declarations

    Conflict of interest

    The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

    Additional information

    Shuang Zhao and Min Tang contributed equally to this work.

    Rights and permissions

    Reprints and permissions

    About this article

    Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

    Cite this article

    Zhao, S., Tang, M., Yuan, K. et al. Median nerve stimulation reduces ventricular arrhythmias induced by dorsomedial hypothalamic stimulation. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 47, 275–283 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-016-0150-5

    Download citation

    • Received:

    • Accepted:

    • Published:

    • Issue Date:

    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-016-0150-5

    Keywords

    Search

    Navigation