Journal article 55 views 16 downloads
Short QT intervals in African lions
Frederik S. Scharling,
Ditte‐Mari Sandgreen,
Julia Stagegaard,
Vibeke S. Elbrønd,
Stefano Vincenti,
Jonas L. Isaksen,
Tobias Wang,
Rory Wilson 
,
Richard Gunner,
Nikki Marks,
Stephen H. Bell,
Martin C. van Rooyen,
Nigel C. Bennett,
Daniel W. Hart,
Angela C. Daly,
Mads F. Bertelsen,
D. Michael Scantlebury,
Kirstine Calloe,
Morten B. Thomsen
,
Richard Gunner,
Nikki Marks,
Stephen H. Bell,
Martin C. van Rooyen,
Nigel C. Bennett,
Daniel W. Hart,
Angela C. Daly,
Mads F. Bertelsen,
D. Michael Scantlebury,
Kirstine Calloe,
Morten B. Thomsen
Experimental Physiology
Swansea University Author:
Rory Wilson
-
PDF | Version of Record
© 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
Download (2.95MB)
DOI (Published version): 10.1113/ep092203
Abstract
The cardiac conduction system in large carnivores, such as the African lion (Panthera leo), represents a significant knowledge gap in both veterinary science and in cardiac electrophysiology. Short QT intervals have been reported from zoo-kept, anaesthetized lions, and our goal was to record the fir...
| Published in: | Experimental Physiology |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0958-0670 1469-445X |
| Published: |
Wiley
2024
|
| Online Access: |
Check full text
|
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67695 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Abstract: |
The cardiac conduction system in large carnivores, such as the African lion (Panthera leo), represents a significant knowledge gap in both veterinary science and in cardiac electrophysiology. Short QT intervals have been reported from zoo-kept, anaesthetized lions, and our goal was to record the first ECGs from wild, conscious lions roaming freely, and compare them to zoo-kept lions under the hypothesis that short QT is unique to zoo-kept lions. Macroscopic and histological examinations were performed on heart tissue removed from nine healthy zoo lions. ECGs were recorded from the nine anaesthetized zoo-kept lions, and from 15 anaesthetized and conscious wild lions in Africa. Our histological and topographical description of the lion's heart matched what has previously been published. In conscious lions, the ECG recordings revealed a mean heart rate of 70 ± 4 beats/min, with faster heart rates during the night. PQ and QT intervals were heart rate dependent in the conscious lions. Interestingly, QT intervals recorded in wild lions were markedly longer than QT intervals from zoo lions (398 ± 40 vs. 297 ± 9 ms, respectively; P < 0.0001). Anaesthesia or heart rate did not account for this difference. We provide a comprehensive description of the cardiac anatomy and electrophysiology of wild and zoo-kept lions. QT intervals were significantly shorter in zoo lions, suggesting functional disparities in cardiac electrophysiology between wild and zoo-kept lions, potentially related to physical fitness. These findings underscore the plasticity of cardiac electrophysiology and may be of value when reintroducing endangered species into the wild and when managing lions in human care. |
|---|---|
| Keywords: |
circadian; feline; Panthera leo; predator; Purkinje; QT |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
Carlsberg Foundation. Grant Number: CF19-0431
Department for Economy Global Challenges Research Fund |