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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 93/3/362    most recent expphysiol.2007.040055v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Howarth, F. C. Articles by Adeghate, E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Howarth, F. C. Articles by Adeghate, E.

¹ Departments of Physiology³ Pharmacology⁴ Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates² Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

In vivo biotelemetry studies have demonstrated a variety of heart rhythm disturbances in type 1 diabetes mellitus. In the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat, these disturbances have included reductions in heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) and an electrocardiogram that displays prolonged QRS duration and Q–T interval. The aim of this study was to investigate the chronic effects of type 2 diabetes mellitus on heart rhythm in the Goto–Kakizaki (GK) rat. Transmitter devices were surgically implanted in the peritoneal cavity of young male GK and age-matched Wistar control rats. Electrodes from the transmitter were arranged in Einthoven bipolar lead II configuration. Electrocardiogram, physical activity and body temperature data were recorded in rats from age 2 to 15 months. Data were acquired for 2 weeks each month. Non-fasting blood glucose, glucose tolerance and body weight were measured periodically. In GK rats, growth rate and maximal attained body weight were significantly reduced and non-fasting blood glucose was progressively increased compared with age-matched Wistar control animals. Heart rate was significantly lower in GK compared with control rats at 2, 7 and 15 months of age. At 2 months of age, HR was 316 ± 6 beats min^–1 in GK rats compared with 370 ± 7 beats min^–1 in Wistar control animals. There was a progressive age-dependent decline in HRV in Wistar control rats; however, HRV in GK rats did not alter significantly with age. Heart rate variability was significantly reduced in GK compared with Wistar control rats at 2 and 7 months. At 2 months of age, HRV was 28 ± 2 beats min^–1 in GK rats compared with 38 ± 3 beats min^–1 in Wistar control rats. Reduced HR in GK rats may be an inherited characteristic. The absence of age-dependent reductions in HRV in GK rats may be a consequence of an underlying impairment of autonomic control which manifests at early age.

(Received 19 August 2007; accepted after revision 3 December 2007; first published online 21 December 2007)
Corresponding author F. C. Howarth: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, PO Box 17666, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Email: chris.howarth{at}uaeu.ac.ae