Zhou Sheng-hua, He Xian-zhi, Liu Qi-ming, Du Wang-hong, Li Xu-ping, Zhou Tao, Tang Jian-qun, Li Rong-shang
Department of Cardiology, Xiang-ya Second Hospital of Central South University, China.
Cardiol J. 2008;15(1):50-6.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between atrial fibrillation and atrial dilation and the spatial distribution pattern of connexin 40 in the atria of patients with coronary heart disease.
Twenty-six patients with coronary heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery for coronary artery bypass graft were investigated and were divided into three groups according to the left atrial size and rhythm, atrial fibrillation and left atrial dilatation (AF+AD), sinus rhythm and left atrial dilation (SR+AD) and sinus rhythm as control group SR. The spatial distribution patterns of Cx40 were evaluated using confocal laser scanning microscopy assay.
No significant differences were observed in the size and density of Cx40 gap junction in the right atrium among all three groups (p > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the size of Cx40 disk area in termination links and in lateral abutment in left atrium was markedly larger in AF+AD group and SR+AD group than those of the controls (p < 0.01). A comparison of size and density of Cx40 gap junction in the left atrium in the AF+AD group and SR+AD group did not show significant differences.
The present study has shown altered gap junction distribution in coronary heart disease resulting from atrial dilation and atrial fibrillation. A decrease in the size and density of Cx40 gap junction was observed in patients with atrial dilation, which could be an important factor in the initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation.
本研究旨在评估冠心病患者心房颤动与心房扩张之间的关联以及连接蛋白40在心房中的空间分布模式。
对26例接受冠状动脉搭桥心脏手术的冠心病患者进行研究，并根据左心房大小和节律分为三组：心房颤动合并左心房扩张（AF+AD）组、窦性心律合并左心房扩张（SR+AD）组以及窦性心律组作为对照组（SR）。使用共聚焦激光扫描显微镜检测法评估连接蛋白40（Cx40）的空间分布模式。
三组患者右心房中Cx40缝隙连接的大小和密度均无显著差异（p>0.05）。与对照组相比，AF+AD组和SR+AD组左心房终末连接和侧向邻接处Cx40盘状区域的大小明显大于对照组（p<0.01）。AF+AD组和SR+AD组左心房中Cx40缝隙连接的大小和密度比较无显著差异。
本研究表明，冠心病患者因心房扩张和心房颤动导致缝隙连接分布改变。心房扩张患者中观察到Cx40缝隙连接的大小和密度降低，这可能是心房颤动发生和维持的重要因素。
