Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026

Rat Model of Right-Sided Cardiac Remodeling and Arrhythmia Using Pulmonary Artery Banding
Published on: August 30, 2024
Rivaroxaban modulates electrical and mechanical characteristics of left atrium
Chien-Jung Chang1, Yao-Chang Chen, Yung-Kuo Lin
1Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, and Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, 111 Hsin-Lung Road Sec. 3, Taipei 116, Taiwan.
Background:
Rivaroxaban reduces stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Left atrium (LA) plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of AF. However, the electromechanical effects of rivaroxaban on LA are not clear.
Results:
Conventional microelectrodes and a whole-cell patch-clamp were used to record the action potentials (APs) and ionic currents in rabbit LA preparations and isolated single LA cardiomyocytes before and after the administration of rivaroxaban. Rivaroxaban (10, 30, 100, and 300 nM) concentration-dependently reduced LA (n=7) AP durations at 90% repolarization (APD90) from 76±2 to 79±3, 67±4 (P<0.05, vs. control), 59±5, (P<0.01, vs. control), and 56±4 ms (P<0.005, vs. control), respectively. Rivaroxaban (10, 30, 100, and 300 nM) concentration-dependently increased the LA (n=7) diastolic tension by 351±69 (P<0.05, vs. control), 563±136 (P<0.05, vs. control), 582±119 (P<0.05, vs. control), and 603±108 mg (P<0.005, vs. control), respectively, but did not change LA contractility. In the presence of L-NAME (100 μM) and indomethacin (10 μM), additional rivaroxaban (300 nM) treatment did not significantly further increase the LA (n=7) diastolic tension, but shortened the APD90 from 73±2 to 60±6 ms (P<0.05, vs. control). Rivaroxaban (100 nM) increased the L-type calcium current and ultra-rapid delayed rectifier potassium current, but did not change the transient outward potassium current in isolated LA cardiomyocytes.
Conclusions:
Rivaroxaban modulates LA electrical and mechanical characteristics with direct ionic current effects.
More Related Videos
08:10Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: July 20, 2022
09:17High-Resolution Endocardial and Epicardial Optical Mapping in a Sheep Model of Stretch-Induced Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: July 29, 2011
Related Concept Videos
Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias
Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class III Agents as Potassium Channel Blockers
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class IV Agents as Calcium Channel Blockers
Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, inhibits calcium movement across myocardial cell membranes and vascular smooth muscle. This results in the dilation of coronary and...
Electrophysiology of Normal Cardiac Rhythm
Aortic Regurgitation III: Medical Management