Right atrial monophasic action potentials were recorded before and after 60 minutes of rapid atrial pacing (pacing cycle length (CL); 127 +/- 10 ms) in 12 closed-chest dogs. The right atrial (RA) monophasic action potential (MAP) duration at 90% repolarization (RAMAPD) was measured at CLs of 400 ms and 250 ms. CL-dependent changes in RAMAPD (CL 400 ms - 250 ms) before and after rapid atrial pacing were 24 +/- 1 ms and 16 +/- 5 ms, respectively (p < 0.02). RAMAP was recorded at each atrial pacing CL starting at 240 ms decreasing by 10-ms increments. RAMAPD alternans was observed in 10 of 12 dogs at a CL of 163 +/- 17 ms before and in 10 of 12 dogs at s CL of 198 +/- 29 ms (p < 0.01) after rapid atrial pacing. Sustained atrial fibrillation (AF) (>5 minutes) was induced in 1 of 12 dogs at a pacing CL of 130 ms before rapid atrial pacing and in 4 of 12 dogs at a pacing CL of 135 +/- 17 ms after rapid atrial pacing. Onset of AF was always preceded by the RAMAPD alternans. Sixty minutes of rapid atrial pacing leads to diminution of rate adaptation of atrial action potential duration (APD) and appearance of APD alternans of greater magnitude at longer CL, both of which may contribute to the initiation and perpetuation of AF during its early phase.