Temperature modulation of ventricular arrhythmogenicity in a canine tissue model of Brugada syndrome

Background: Fever promotes ventricular arrhythmias in Brugada syndrome (BrS). Hypothermia can induce BrS electrocardiogram (ECG) and arrhythmia. However, the mechanisms are unclear. Objective: We evaluated the hypothesis that pathological temperatures promoted arrhythmogenesis by modulating the spatial heterogeneity and functional dynamics of right ventricular electrophysiological activity. Methods: We mapped action potentials (APs) on the epicardial or cut-exposed transmural surfaces and recorded transmural ECGs in 27 arterially perfused canine right ventricular preparations before and after inducing BrS at 32°C, 36.5°C, and 40°C. Results: We observed major intraepicardial dispersion of AP duration (APD) and reversal of transmural gradient of APD in association with manifestation of BrS at 36.5°C. Reducing the temperature to 32°C prolonged APDs and enhanced the phase 1 notch of epicardial APs, while 40°C caused opposite changes. Prominent phase 2 domes of APs frequently led to spontaneous premature ventricular activations (PVAs), which conducted to surrounding regions having shorter APDs. Longer APDs at 32°C and 36.5°C frequently blocked reentry, although they promoted PVA, while shortened APDs at 40°C facilitated reentrant ventricular tachycardia. During bradycardia (2,000 ms), the J-ST elevation in the ECG was enhanced at 32°C and attenuated at 40°C. Rapid pacing (500 ms) eliminated the dome of epicardial APs and enhanced J-ST elevation at each temperature. Blocking the transient outward current, I_to, with 4-aminopyridine reduced J-ST elevation and eliminated the PVA and reentry. Conclusions: In this BrS model, prolongation and increased dispersion of APDs promoted spontaneous activation during hypothermia, while APD abbreviation facilitated reentry during hyperthermia. I_to mediated the arrhythmogenicity.