Chronic blockade of angiotensin II AT1-receptors increased cell-to-cell communication, reduced fibrosis and improved impulse propagation in the failing heart

Introduction. The influence of chronic administration of losartan on gap junction conductance (gj), conduction velocity and interstitial fibrosis was investigated in the failing heart of 4-month-old cardiomyopathic hamsters (TO-2).After two months of administration of losartan (25 mg/kg/day/po) the number of cell pairs showing very low values of gj (2—8 nS) was significantly reduced whereas the group of cell pairs with larger values of gj (18-45 nS) was significantly increased.The conduction velocity measured with intracellular microelectrodes in the wall of the left ventricle was enhanced from 38+2.3 cm/s (n=25) (control) to 49+2 cm/s (n=24) (p