An equine model of chronic atrial fibrillation: methodology.
Abstract: We describe the development and the different features of an experimental model of chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) in equines. In four healthy ponies a dual-chamber pacemaker, with an adapted pacemaker program, was implanted transvenously in the standing animal. This adapted pacemaker induced episodes of AF by delivering a 2s burst of electrical stimuli (42 Hz) as soon as sinus rhythm was detected. Simultaneous with a surface electrocardiogram, the intra-atrial electrogram could be recorded to determine the atrial electrogram morphology. Programmed electrical stimulation (PES) was used to determine the atrial effective refractory period (AERP) and the rate adaptation of the AERP, the sinus node recovery time (SNRT) and the corrected SNRT, AF vulnerability, AF cycle length and AF duration. This experimental AF model can be used to study the pathophysiology of chronic AF in equines.
Publication Date: 2002-10-03 PubMed ID: 12359469DOI: 10.1053/tvjl.2001.0668Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research describes the creation and features of a chronic atrial fibrillation model in horses using an adapted pacemaker. This model assists in studying the causes behind chronic atrial fibrillation in equines.
Creating the Model
- The researchers developed an experimental model of chronic atrial fibrillation in horses. This was achieved by using a dual-chamber pacemaker, specifically adapted for the purpose of this study and implanted within the horse while it was standing.
- The adapted pacemaker was designed to induce episodes of atrial fibrillation. This was accomplished by delivering a two-second burst of electrical stimuli (measured at 42 Hertz) whenever a natural heartbeat rhythm was detected.
Recording and Analysing Data
- To capture data during the induced episodes of atrial fibrillation, the researchers harnessed a surface electrocardiogram to record the intra-atrial electrogram. This allowed the team to determine the morphology, or shape and structure, of the atrial electrogram – essentially capturing how the atrial fibrillation episode manifested within the horse’s heart.
- Programmed electrical stimulation (PES) was used to assess different cardiac metrics. These included the atrial effective refractory period (AERP), an understanding of how the AERP adapted over time, the sinus node recovery time (SNRT), as well as a corrected measure of the SNRT. The researchers additionally studied the vulnerability to atrial fibrillation, the length of each atrial fibrillation cycle and the total duration of the atrial fibrillation episode.
Implications of the Study
- This research, through the development of an experimental model, facilitates a more thorough exploration of the causes behind chronic atrial fibrillation in horses.
- This model, and the data it yields, could potentially assist in better preventing, detecting and managing chronic atrial fibrillation in the future.
Cite This Article
APA
Van Loon G, Duytschaever M, Tavernier R, Fonteyne W, Jordaens L, Deprez P.
(2002).
An equine model of chronic atrial fibrillation: methodology.
Vet J, 164(2), 142-150.
https://doi.org/10.1053/tvjl.2001.0668 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Gunther.vanLoon@rug.ac.be
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Atrial Fibrillation / physiopathology
- Atrial Fibrillation / veterinary
- Cardiac Pacing, Artificial
- Chronic Disease
- Disease Models, Animal
- Electric Stimulation
- Electrocardiography
- Heart Rate
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses
- Pacemaker, Artificial / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Buschmann E, Van Steenkiste G, Vernemmen I, Demeyere M, Schauvliege S, Decloedt A, van Loon G. Multiple Catheter Recording in Horses to Investigate Atrial Depolarization Pattern During Sinus Rhythm and Induced Premature Atrial Complexes. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Sep-Oct;39(5):e70218.
- Schneider MJ, Piotrowski IL, Junge HK, van Steenkiste G, Vernemmen I, van Loon G, Schwarzwald CC. Application of Acoustic Cardiography in Assessment of Cardiac Function in Horses with Atrial Fibrillation Before and After Cardioversion. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jul 7;15(13).
- Kjeldsen ST, Nissen SD, Buhl R, Hopster-Iversen C. Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in Horses: Pathophysiology, Diagnostics and Clinical Aspects. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 10;12(6).
- Fenner MF, Carstensen H, Dalgas Nissen S, Melis Hesselkilde E, Scott Lunddahl C, Adler Hess Jensen M, Loft-Andersen AV, Sattler SM, Platonov P, El-Haou S, Jackson C, Tang R, Kirby R, Ford J, Schotten U, Milnes J, Svane Sørensen U, Jespersen T, Buhl R. Effect of selective I(K,ACh) inhibition by XAF-1407 in an equine model of tachypacing-induced persistent atrial fibrillation. Br J Pharmacol 2020 Aug;177(16):3778-3794.
- Hesselkilde EZ, Carstensen H, Flethøj M, Fenner M, Kruse DD, Sattler SM, Tfelt-Hansen J, Pehrson S, Braunstein TH, Carlson J, Platonov PG, Jespersen T, Buhl R. Longitudinal study of electrical, functional and structural remodelling in an equine model of atrial fibrillation. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2019 Oct 21;19(1):228.
- Decloedt A, Schwarzwald CC, De Clercq D, Van Der Vekens N, Pardon B, Reef VB, van Loon G. Risk factors for recurrence of atrial fibrillation in horses after cardioversion to sinus rhythm. J Vet Intern Med 2015 May-Jun;29(3):946-53.
- Haugaard MM, Pehrson S, Carstensen H, Flethøj M, Hesselkilde EZ, Praestegaard KF, Diness JG, Grunnet M, Jespersen T, Buhl R. Antiarrhythmic and electrophysiologic effects of flecainide on acutely induced atrial fibrillation in healthy horses. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Jan;29(1):339-47.
- Reef VB, Bonagura J, Buhl R, McGurrin MK, Schwarzwald CC, van Loon G, Young LE. Recommendations for management of equine athletes with cardiovascular abnormalities. J Vet Intern Med 2014 May-Jun;28(3):749-61.
- De Clercq D, Decloedt A, Sys SU, Verheyen T, Van Der Vekens N, van Loon G. Atrial fibrillation cycle length and atrial size in horses with and without recurrence of atrial fibrillation after electrical cardioversion. J Vet Intern Med 2014 Mar-Apr;28(2):624-9.
- Kaese S, Verheule S. Cardiac electrophysiology in mice: a matter of size. Front Physiol 2012;3:345.
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