Dietary omega-3 fatty acids attenuate myocardial arrhythmogenic factors and propensity of the heart to lethal arrhythmias in a rodent model of human essential hypertension

Abstract

Hypertension-induced myocardial remodeling is known to be associated with increased risk for malignant arrhythmias and alterations in electrical coupling protein, connexin-43 (Cx43), may be involved. We investigated whether omega-3 fatty acids intake affects abnormalities of Cx43 as well as protein kinase C (PKC) signaling and myosin heavy chain (MyHC) profile at the early and late stage of hypertension in the context of the heart's susceptibility to ventricular fibrillation and ability to restore sinus rhythm.

Keywords

• hypertension
• myocardial connexin-43
• myosin heavy chain
• omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
• protein kinase C
• sinus rhythm restoration
• ventricular fibrillation