Susceptibility to life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias in an animal model of paradoxical sleep deprivation

摘要

Background: According to some reports regarding the increase of cardiac events following sleep deprivation, our study was conducted to clarify the effects of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation on susceptibility to lethal ventricular arrhythmias in rat. Methods: The animal groups included the control group; the sham 48 and sham 72 groups (without sleep deprivation); and the test 48 and test 72 groups, who experienced REM sleep deprivation for 48. h and 72. h, respectively. For induction of cardiac arrhythmia, aconitine was infused via the tail vein of the animals. Results: After 72. h of REM sleep deprivation, the blood pressure (BP) levels and the QTc interval of the electrocardiogram (ECG) were significantly increased (P<.05 and P<.01, respectively). However, the sleep deprivation had no significant effect on the heart rate (HR), myocardial oxygen consumption index, and plasma corticosterone level. Furthermore, sleep deprivation increased the latency times of premature ventricular contraction (PVC), ventricular tachycardia (VT), and also the PVC number; however, it did not increase the number, duration, and severity of VT and ventricular fibrillation (VF). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that 72. h of REM sleep deprivation is associated with increased risk for hypertension and QT interval prolongation under nonstressful conditions; however, it does not increase the susceptibility to lethal ventricular arrhythmia in rat.