Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Histamine and pacemaker shift in the sinoatrial node

E Kevelaitis¹, R Abraitis, R Lazhauskas

¹Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical Academy, Kaunas, Lithuania.

Agents and Actions

|June 1, 1994

Summary

Histamine activates latent pacemakers in rabbit heart atria, shifting the dominant pacemaker location. This effect on sinoatrial node function is reversible, highlighting histamine's role in cardiac electrical activity.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

First Report of a New Phytoplasma Subgroup, 16SrIII-T, Associated with Decline Disease Affecting Sweet and Sour Cherry Trees in Lithuania.

Plant disease·2019

Same author

The effect of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench extract on experimental prostate hyperplasia.

Phytotherapy research : PTR·2009

Same author

Backtable heat-enhanced preconditioning: a simple and effective means of improving function of heart transplants.

The Annals of thoracic surgery·2001

Same author

Ischemic preconditioning with opening of mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels or Na/H exchange inhibition: which is the best protective strategy for heart transplants?

The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery·2001

Same author

Opening of mitochondrial potassium channels: a new target for graft preservation strategies?

Transplantation·2000

Same author

Preconditioning by mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel openers: An effective approach for improving the preservation of heart transplants.

Circulation·1999

Area of Science:

Cardiology
Electrophysiology
Pharmacology

Background:

The sinoatrial node (SAN) is the primary pacemaker of the heart.
Understanding factors that influence pacemaker dominance is crucial for cardiac health.
Histamine's role in modulating cardiac pacemaker activity requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effects of histamine on the location of the dominant pacemaker within the rabbit sinoatrial node.
To determine if histamine can alter the site of origin of cardiac electrical activity.

Main Methods:

Isolated superfused rabbit right atrial preparations containing the SAN were utilized.
Preparations were sectioned into four fragments for localized electrical recording.
Surface suction electrodes with KCl perfusion recorded monophasic potentials to assess electrical activity frequency.

Main Results:

Under control conditions, the central SAN fragment exhibited the highest spontaneous electrical activity frequency.
Histamine administration (10^-5 M) increased spontaneous activity in all atrial fragments.
Following histamine exposure, the inferior SAN fragment demonstrated the maximum frequency, indicating a pacemaker shift.
The observed pacemaker shift was reversible upon removal of histamine.

Conclusions:

Histamine activates latent pacemakers within the sinoatrial node.
Histamine induces a reversible shift in the dominant pacemaker location towards the inferior SAN region.
These findings suggest histamine plays a significant role in regulating cardiac rhythm by modulating pacemaker hierarchy.

Related Experiment Videos