Lack of gelsolin promotes perpetuation of atrial fibrillation in the mouse heart.

Purpose: Gelsolin (gsn) is involved in the reorganization of the cytoskeleton, thereby modulating cardiomyocytal L-type Ca(2+) channels. We investigated global cardiac electrophysiological characteristics in a gsn-deficient (gsn(-/-)) mouse strain.

Methods: Using transvenous catheterization, atrial and ventricular stimulation were performed in 15 male mice [eight gsn(-/-), seven wild-type (gsn(+/+))].