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Updated: Jun 1, 2026
Standardized Model of Ventricular Fibrillation and Advanced Cardiac Life Support in Swine
Published on: January 30, 2020
Effect of ZP123, a gap junction modifier, on prolonged ventricular fibrillation in swine
Jing-Sha Li1, Jing-Quan Zhong, Qi-Xian Zeng
1Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education and Chinese Ministry of Health, and Department of Cardiology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China.
Objectives:
It was the aim of this study to investigate the effect of ZP123 on prolonged ventricular fibrillation (VF) in swine.
Methods:
VF was electrically induced in 20 pigs. The animals randomly received either ZP123 or saline control infusion before VF. After 8 min of untreated VF, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and biphasic defibrillation shocks were applied. VF mean frequency (VF(mf)) and mean amplitude (VF(ma)), hemodynamics, outcome of defibrillation and the rate of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) were analyzed.
Results:
Compared with the control group, VF(mf) was higher but VF(ma) lower during the 8 min of VF in the drug group (11.8 ± 2.1 vs. 10.4 ± 2.0 Hz and 0.24 ± 0.10 vs. 0.31 ± 0.16 mV, respectively; p < 0.05). Hemodynamic variables in the 2 groups were comparable (p > 0.05). The defibrillation threshold was lower and the rate of successful defibrillation was higher in the drug group compared with the control group (92.2 ± 26.4 vs. 133.3 ± 28.9 J and 90 vs. 30%, respectively; p < 0.05). The rate of ROSC was not different between the 2 groups (40 vs. 30%; p > 0.05).
Conclusion:
In prolonged VF, ZP123 could decrease the defibrillation threshold and improve the rate of successful defibrillation. However, it could not improve the rate of ROSC - which may be due to its side effect of decreasing VF(ma).
