We aimed to explore relationship between myocardial electrical coupling protein connexin-43 (Cx43) and susceptibility of rats with altered thyroid status to malignant arrhythmias and to examine possible beneficial effect of red palm oil (RPO). We conclude that there is an inverse relationship between myocardial Cx43 expression and heart susceptibility of rats with altered thyroid status to VF, whereby PKC.epsilon can also be involved.
RPO intake increased threshold for induction of VF in the TH rats, apparently again due to up-regulation of Cx43 and PKC epsilon.