Pharmacological inhibition of sodium-proton-exchanger subtype 3-mediated sodium absorption in the gut reduces atrial fibrillation susceptibility in obese spontaneously hypertensive rats

Benedikt Linz*, Mathias Hohl, Ricardo Mishima, Arnela Saljic, Dennis H. Lau, Thomas Jespersen, Ulrich Schotten, Prashanthan Sanders, Dominik Linz

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: Increased sodium uptake has been shown to contribute to hypertension and cardiac endorgan damage. The sodium-proton-exchanger subtype 3 (NHE3) is an important mediator of intestinal sodium absorption. Whether a reduction in intestinal sodium absorption can prevent the development of an atrial arrhythmogenic substrate in hypertension is unknown.

Methods: Eight-week-old obese spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-ob) were treated for six weeks with the gut-specific NHE3-inhibitor SAR (1-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-3-{3-[(4S)-6,8-dichloro-2-methyl-1, 2,3,4-tetrahydroiso-chinolin-4-yl]phenyl}urea, 1 mg/kg/d in chow, SHR-ob SAR, n = 7) and compared to aged-matched placebo-treated SHR-ob (SHR-ob PLAC, n = 8). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed at the end of the treatment period to assess atrial emptying function. Afterwards, local conduction disturbances and inducible atrial fibrillation (AF) duration were determined and histological analysis to quantify atrial fibrosis amount were performed.

Results: Inhibition of intestinal NHE3 by SAR increased fecal sodium excretion, resulted in marked changes in feces electrolyte concentrations and water content, reduced blood pressure and preserved atrial emptying function (active total percent emptying: SHR-ob SAR: 0.47 +/- 0.05% vs. SHR-ob PLAC: 0.38 +/- 0.007, p <0.0001). Atrial fibrosis content was lower (21.4 +/- 2.5% vs. 36.7 +/- 1.2%, p <0.0001) and areas of slow conduction were smaller (2.5 +/- 0.09% vs. 5.3 +/- 0.2%, p <0.0001) in SHR-ob SAR compared to SHR-ob PLAC. Left atrial burst stimulation resulted in shorter inducible AF-durations in SHR-ob SAR compared to SHR-ob PLAC.

Conclusions: Reduction of intestinal sodium absorption and subsequent changes in feces milieu by pharmacological NHE3 inhibition in the gut preserved atrial emptying function and reduced AF susceptibility. Whether pharmacological NHE3 inhibition in the gut prevents AF in humans warrants further study. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Original languageEnglish
Article number100534
Number of pages7
JournalIJC Heart & Vasculature
Volume28
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2020

Keywords

  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Salt
  • Sodium-proton-exchanger Subtype 3 (NHE3)
  • Intestinal sodium absorption
  • URINARY SODIUM
  • INCREASES
  • MORTALITY
  • EXCRETION
  • FATTY
  • DIET

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