Pronounced Effects of HERG-Blockers E-4031 and Erythromycin on APD, Spatial APD Dispersion and Triangulation in Transgenic Long-QT Type 1 Rabbits

Background: Prolongation of action potential duration (APD), increased spatial APD dispersion, and triangulation are major factors promoting drug-induced ventricular arrhythmia. Preclinical identification of HERG/IKr-blocking drugs and their pro-arrhythmic potential, however, remains a challenge. We hypothesize that transgenic long-QT type 1 (LQT1) rabbits lacking repolarizing IKs current may help to sensitively detect HERG/IKr-blocking properties of drugs. Methods: Hearts of adult female transgenic LQT1 and wild type littermate control (LMC) rabbits were Langendorff-perfused with increasing concentrations of HERG/IKr-blockers E-4031 (0.001–0.1 mM, n = 9/7) or erythromycin (1–300 mM, n = 9/7) and APD, APD dispersion, and triangulation were analyzed. Results: At baseline, APD was longer in LQT1 than in LMC rabbits in LV apex and RV mid. Erythromycin and E-4031 prolonged APD in LQT1 and LMC rabbits in all positions. However, erythromycin-induced percentaged APD prolongation related to baseline (%APD) was more pronounced in LQT1 at LV base-lateral and RV mid positions (100 mM, LQT1, + 40.669.7 % vs. LMC, +24.1610.0%, p,0.05) and E-4031-induced %APD prolongation was more pronounced in LQT1 at LV base-lateral (0.01 mM, LQT1, +29.6610.6 % vs. LMC, +19.163.8%, p,0.05) and LV base-septal positions. Moreover, erythromycin significantly increased spatial APD dispersion only in LQT1 and increased triangulation only in LQT1 in LV base-septal and RV mid positions. Similarly, E-4031 increased triangulation only in LQT1 in LV apex and base-septa