Mild hypothermia preserves myocardial conduction during ischemia by maintaining gap junction intracellular communication and Na+ channel function

In conclusion, MH preserves myocardial conduction during prolonged ischemia by maintaining Cx43 expression at the ID and maintaining NaCh function. Hypothermic preservation of GJ coupling and NaCh may be novel antiarrhythmic strategies during resuscitation. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Therapeutic hypothermia is now a class I recommendation for resuscitation from cardiac arrest. This study determined that hypothermia preserves gap junction coupling as well as Na+ channel function during acute cardiac ischemia, attenuating conduction slowing and preventing conduction block, suggesting that induced hypothermia may be a novel antiarrhythmic strategy in resuscitation.

http://ajpheart.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5/H886?rss=1

Source: AJP: Heart and Circulatory Physiology - May 1, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Nassal, M. M. J., Wan, X., Dale, Z., Deschenes, I., Wilson, L. D., Piktel, J. S. Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research