Inhibition of AMPARs ameliorates atrial inflammation and vulnerability to atrial fibrillation in rats with anxiety disorders

Previous studies have found that anxiety disorders may increase the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF). More and more studies have shown that AMPARs are involved in the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases. However, the role of AMPARs in AF associated with anxiety disorder remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of AMPARs on atrial fibrillation susceptibility in rats with anxiety disorder and its possible mechanism. The anxiety disorder rat model was established by unpredictable empty bottle stimulation, and was treated with AMPARs agonist and antagonist. Our results showed that AMPARs antagonist treatment significantly reduced sympathetic activity, improved heart rate variability, shortened action potential duration, prolonged effective refractory period, reduced AF induction rate, and improved cardiac electrical remodeling and the expression of inflammatory factors. In addition, inhibition of AMPARs reduced the phosphorylation of IκBα and p65. Our experimental results suggest that inhibition of AMPARs can reduce autonomic remodeling, improve atrial electrical remodeling and suppress myocardial inflammation, which provides a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of AF associated with anxiety disorder.