Effects of a diet rich in Q-3 fatty acids on left ventricular geometry and dynamics in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Summary The aim of the present study was to investigate the chronic effects of a dietetic antihypertensive treatment on blood pressure, ventricular dynamics and geometry of the pressure loaded heart. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) received a standard diet enriched with 10% mackerel oil, containing 30% polyunsaturated Q-3 fatty acids, over a period of 70 days. As described previously the diet reduced blood pressure permanently by 40-50 mm Hg. Despite this reduction, the degree of left ventricular hypertrophy was only slightly (statistically insignificantly) reduced. This was probably a result of an increase in sympathetic tone as indicated by a raised pulse rate. On the other hand, the treatment prevented the development of eccentric hypertrophy, typical to the SHR, without changing the elastic material properties of the myocardium. Since the age-matched controls did not show significant degenerative alterations, protective effects at the level of myocardial tissue could not be demonstrated. Furthermore, future investigations need to investigate why myocardial contractility of the treated animals diminishes as observed in this study.     

The effects of atherosclerosis on the hypertrophied rabbit heart.

We studied the effects of high cholesterol diet and atherosclerosis on the development of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in rabbits. The suprarenal aorta was banded in rabbits on a normal diet and in rabbits on a 4% cholesterol diet. A group of sham-operated rabbits was fed a normal diet, and another group of sham-operated rabbits was fed a 4% cholesterol diet. All four groups were sacrificed after approximately 6 months, when hypertrophy in the banded rabbits had stabilized. The LV- and RV-to-body weight ratios were determined. LV to body weight increased from a value in controls of 0.78 ± 0.052 to 1.02 ± 0.085 gm/kgm (P < 0.05) in the banded group on a normal diet and to 1.03 ± 0.031 gm/kgm (P < 0.05) in the sham-operated group on a cholesterol diet. The increase in the LV-to-body weight ratio to 1.21 ± 0.072 gm/kgm was largest (P < 0.05) in the banded group on the high cholesterol diet. RV to body weight did not change in any group. The development of LVH in atherosclerotic rabbits was associated with an increase in arterial pressure. Myocardial ischemia could not be responsible for LVH since hypertrophy was confirmed only in the left ventricle even in the presence of right ventricular myocardial ischemia. Atherosclerosis increased the degree of LVH induced by aortic banding in an additive manner. Therefore, the findings indicate that LVH in the atherosclerotic rabbit was due to increased arterial pressure induced by the atherosclerosis and that atherosclerosis further increased the degree of hypertrophy induced by aortic banding by increasing the arterial pressure proximal to the band.     

Hemodynamic, Morphometric and Autonomic Patterns in Hypertensive Rats - Renin-Angiotensin System Modulation

BACKGROUND:

Spontaneously hypertensive rats develop left ventricular hypertrophy, increased blood pressure and blood pressure variability, which are important determinants of heart damage, like the activation of renin-angiotensin system.

AIMS:

To investigate the effects of the time-course of hypertension over 1) hemodynamic and autonomic patterns (blood pressure; blood pressure variability; heart rate); 2) left ventricular hypertrophy; and 3) local and systemic Renin-angiotensin system of the spontaneously hypertensive rats.

METHODS:

Male spontaneously hypertensive rats were randomized into two groups: young (n=13) and adult (n=12). Hemodynamic signals (blood pressure, heart rate), blood pressure variability (BPV) and spectral analysis of the autonomic components of blood pressure were analyzed. LEFT ventricular hypertrophy was measured by the ratio of LV mass to body weight (mg/g), by myocyte diameter (μm) and by relative fibrosis area (RFA, %). ACE and ACE2 activities were measured by fluorometry (UF/min), and plasma renin activity (PRA) was assessed by a radioimmunoassay (ng/mL/h). Cardiac gene expressions of Agt, Ace and Ace2 were quantified by RT-PCR (AU).

RESULTS:

The time-course of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats increased BPV and reduced the alpha index in adult spontaneously hypertensive rats. Adult rats showed increases in left ventricular hypertrophy and in RFA. Compared to young spontaneously hypertensive rats, adult spontaneously hypertensive rats had lower cardiac ACE and ACE2 activities, and high levels of PRA. No change was observed in gene expression of Renin-angiotensin system components.

CONCLUSIONS:

The observed autonomic dysfunction and modulation of Renin-angiotensin system activity are contributing factors to end-organ damage in hypertension and could be interacting. Our findings suggest that the management of hypertensive disease must start before blood pressure reaches the highest stable levels and the consequent established end-organ damage is reached.     

Induction of cardiac angiotensin I-converting enzyme with dietary NaCl-loading in genetically hypertensive and normotensive rats

We have recently shown that the angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) gene is linked to NaCl-loaded blood pressure in the stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHRSP), and that high-NaCl loading selectively stimulates ACE in the aorta of SHRSP but not in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. We therefore investigated the relationship between cardiac ACE and the development of hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy in response to normal- and high-NaCl diet in these rats. ACE mRNA and ACE activity were measured in left ventricular tissue after completion of hemodynamic characterization of the animals. While SHRSP rats increased blood pressure (P<0.0001) and heart rate (P<0.005) in response to high NaCl, blood pressure remained unchanged in WKY. Similarly, relative left ventricular weight increased only in SHRSP after high NaCl (P<0.002). A significant two- to threefold increase of cardiac ACE mRNA and fourfold stimulation of ACE enzyme activity in response to high NaCl was found in both WKY and SHRSP rats (P<0.005). The induction of ACE gene expression was significantly more pronounced in SHRSP compared to WKY (P<0.02), whereas no significant strain differences in left ventricular ACE activity were found after either normal- or high-NaCl diet. Thus, arterial blood pressure and left ventricular weight remained unchanged in the WKY rats despite the activation of left ventricular ACE activity after high-NaCl exposure. These results demonstrate that left ventricular ACE activity is equally upregulated in response to high-NaCl in the normotensive and hypertensive strain, independently from the development of hypertension. We conclude that the pretranslational induction of left ventricular ACE with high-NaCl loading may be important both for the regulation of cardiac angiotensins and kinins and for local therapeutic ACE inhibition in the heart during high-salt status.Abbreviations ACE Angiotensin I-converting enzyme - Ang Angiotensin - LVH Left ventricular hypertrophy - PCR Polymerase chain reaction - SHRSP Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat - WKY Wistar-Kyoto     

Depolarization pattern of ventricular epicardium in two-kidney one-clip hypertensive rats

The present study is the first attempt to examine the effect of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) on the excitation pattern of the ventricular epicardium in experimental hypertensive rats. The left renal artery was clipped in Wistar rats (n = 8; 6-8 months old; weight, 174-295 g) to produce two-kidney one-clip (2K1C) hypertension. After 4 weeks, blood pressure was measured, and epicardial potential mapping was performed under sinus rhythm from 64 unipolar electrodes regularly distributed over the ventricular epicardium. Systolic blood pressure was approximately 40% higher in the rats with a clipped renal artery (162 +/- 14 mmHg, mean +/- s.d.) than in the normotensive rats (115 +/- 3 mmHg). LVH (approximately 23% increase in the ratio of the left ventricular weight to the body weight, P < 0.05) was observed in the 2K1C hypertensive rats. The depolarization pattern of the ventricular epicardium in the normotensive rats was similar to that in the rats with 2K1C hypertensive LVH. The duration of ventricular epicardial activation was shown to increase (approximately 35%, P < 0.05) in the hypertensive rats as compared to the normotensive animals. This study provides an explanation for alterations of the body surface potential distribution in hypertensive patients with LVH.     

Norepinephrine-induced cardiac hypertrophy of the cat heart.

Norepinephrine administration causes progressive hypertrophy of the mammalian heart as measured by myocardial mass. The purpose of this study was to determine the growth response of the myocardial tissue components as well as the myocardial cell itself to norepinephrine. Young, adult cats were given low doses of norepinephrine in dextrose or dextrose alone twice daily for 15 days. On day 16, there were no changes in the animals body weight, right ventricular systolic pressure, right ventricular end-diastolic pressure, heart rate, cardiac index, or blood pressure. However, the right ventricle/body weight, the left ventricle/body weight and the total heart weight/body weight were increased significantly in the norepinephrine treated animals. The increase was on the order of 40%. The cardiac muscle cell was also significantly increased in size and both the right and left ventricular cardiac muscle cells exhibited a dramatic increase in size as measured by cross sectional area. Upon stereological examination it was found that the amount of hypertrophy as seen in the cardiac muscle cells was paralleled by the hypertrophy seen in the other tissue components of the myocardium. The volume density of the muscle cells, the interstitial components, as well as the blood vessel compartment were identical in the control and in the norepinephrine-treated groups. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the response of the myocardium to norepinephrine is similar to that seen in response to a volume overload rather than that seen in response to pressure overload.     

Norepinephrine-induced cardiac hypertrophy of the cat heart

Norepinephrine administration causes progressive hypertrophy of the mammalian heart as measured by myocardial mass. The purpose of this study was to determine the growth response of the myocardial tissue components as well as the myocardial cell itself to norepinephrine. Young, adult cats were given low doses of norepinephrine in dextrose or dextrose alone twice daily for 15 days. On day 16, there were no changes in the animals body weight, right ventricular systolic pressure, right ventricular end-diastolic pressure, heart rate, cardiac index, or blood pressure. However, the right ventricle/body weight, the left ventricle/body weight and the total heart weight/body weight were increased significantly in the norepinephrine treated animals. The increase was on the order of 40%. The cardiac muscle cell was also significantly increased in size and both the right and left ventricular cardiac muscle cells exhibited a dramatic increase in size as measured by cross sectional area. Upon stereological examination it was found that the amount of hypertrophy as seen in the cardiac muscle cells was paralleled by the hypertrophy seen in the other tissue components of the myocardium. The volume density of the muscle cells, the interstitial components, as well as the blood vessel compartment were identical in the control and in the norepinephrine-treated groups. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the response of the myocardium to norepinephrine is similar to that seen in response to a volume overload rather than that seen in response to pressure overload.     

压力负荷性左室肥厚大鼠心肌钠钙交换体和肌浆网钙泵的表达

目的 观察压力负荷性左室肥厚大鼠心功能异常及心肌钠钙交换体(NCX)和肌浆网钙泵(SERCA2a)的表达变化.方法 缩窄大鼠腹主动脉制备压力负荷性心肌肥厚模型,测定在体血流动力学及左室重量指数(LVWI),用RT-PCR和Western blot法检测左室组织NCX及SERCA2a的表达.结果 与假手术组相比,模型大鼠左室收缩压(LVSP)及左室舒张末压(LVEDP)均显著升高(P<0.01,P<0.001);左室重量指数显著增加(P<0.001)及左室NCX mRNA表达上调(P相似文献   

Development of SHR hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy during prolonged beta blockade.

Spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were treated with beta-adrenergic receptor inhibiting drugs (either propranolol or timolol) from conception until 12 weeks of age to determine if this therapy would alter the development of systemic hypertension or left ventricular hypertrophy. Therapy (propranolol or timolol, 500 mg/liter drinking water) was initiated with breeding parents and continued throughout the pregnancy, nursing, and postweaning periods. Although the heart rates of beta-adrenergic receptor inhibited WKY and SHR rats were consistently reduced with respect to their respective tap-water controls, this therapy did not alter body growth. Hemodynamic studies demonstrated reduced central venous pressure, cardiac index, and maximum acceleration of aortic flow in the beta-adrenergic inhibited rats. In spite of these findings, the arterial pressure of the treated rats and the degree of left ventricular hypertrophy of the SHR were unaltered by treatment. Thus, administration of the beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agents, propranolol or timolol, from conception through the developmental stage of SHR hypertension, failed to alter either the progressive rise in arterial pressure or the development of hypertensive vascular disease and left ventricular hypertrophy.     

高血压性心脏病心脏B超与心电图的对比观察

目的临床观察对比高血压性心脏病采用心脏B超与心电图检查的效果。方法选取48例经诊断为高血压性心脏病患者分别采用心电图检查诊断(心电组)与超声超声仪器进行诊断(超声组),观察两组诊断准确度。结果超声组左室扩大有18例占37.5%,左室肥厚37例占77.1%,左房增大有19例占39.6%;心电组左室扩大有10例占20.8%,左室肥厚17例占35.4%,左房增大有6例占12.5%。高血压性心脏病检测准确度超声组较心电组高,P0.05。结论临床对高血压性心脏病患者采用心脏B超检查不仅可清楚了解患者心脏情况,且诊断准确度高。     

The effect of non-antihypertensive doses of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor on myocardial necrosis and hypertrophy in young rats with renovascular hypertension

In renovascular hypertensive rats, low doses of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been found to prevent myocardial hypertrophy independent of blood pressure level. This finding would suggest humoral rather than mechanical control of myocyte growth. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of nonantihypertensive doses of ACE inhibitor on myocardial hypertrophy and necrosis in hypertensive rats. Renovascular hypertension (RHT) was induced in four-week-old Wistar rats. Twenty-eight animals were treated for four weeks with three doses of ramipril (0.01, 0.1 or 1.0 mg/kg/day, which are unable to lower blood pressure. Fourteen animals were not treated (RHT group). A sham operated, age/sex-matched group was used as control ( n  = 10). Myocardial histology was analysed in 3 μm thick sections of the ventricle stained with either haematoxylin-eosin, reticulin silver stain or Masson's trichrome. There was a significant correlation between systolic blood pressure and left ventricular to body weight ratio in both sets of animals: untreated plus controls and ramipril-treated rats. ACE inhibition prevented myocyte and perivascular necrosis and fibrosis in a dose-dependent manner. We conclude that myocardial hypertrophy in rats with renovascular hypertension is directly related to arterial pressure, and that this relationship is not affected by nonantihypertensive doses of ACE inhibitor. Myocardial necrosis/fibrosis and coronary artery damage induced by angiotensin II are prevented by ACE inhibitor in a dose-dependent manner, despite the presence of arterial hypertension.     

Left ventricular hypertrophy improves cardiac performance in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Cardiac function was studied in spontaneously breathing, adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto normotensive rats (WKY). By rapid intravenous blood infusion, the relation between left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and stroke volume (SV) was determined while the cardiac nervous control was pharmacologically blocked. Since SV is greatly influenced by the level of afterload (mean arterial pressure, MAP), SV was also determined at increased MAP (constriction of abdominal aorta) and at decreased MAP (vasodilation by hydralazine). At low LVEDP levels, a righward shift of the Frank-Starling relationship was observed in SHR. This rightward shift seems mainly to depend on the increased MAP present in SHR since it was less prominent if MAP was lowered to normotensive levels in SHR. Maximal SV during volume infusion was similar in SHR and WKY, despite a much higher MAP in SHR. When peak SV was instead compared at similar MAP levels for both (either at ‘normotensive’ or ‘hypertensive’ levels) it was always significantly greater in SHR, and was increased largely in proportion to their increased left ventricular weight. This indicates that the left ventricular hypertrophy present in SHR is, at least at this stage, a physiological adaptation of the heart to increase its performance, in order to maintain a normal SV and hence cardiac output, despite an increased arterial pressure.     

Prevalence and upper limit of cardiac hypertrophy in professional cyclists

The term athlete's heart refers to an increased left ventricular mass. Few studies have assessed the prevalence and normal upper limit of cardiac hypertrophy in highly trained cyclists and this was the aim of this study. A group of 40 professional road cyclists [mean age 26 (SD 3) years] who had participated in European competitions for 3–10 years, were evaluated at the beginning of the 1992–93 season. Evaluation included a clinical history and physical examination, one and two-dimensional echocardiography, 12-lead resting electrocardiogram and a graded exercise test. Determination of the left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was performed using Devereux's formula with correction for the body surface area. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured at rest and at peak exercise. Of the group 23 cyclists (58%) presented a LVMI greater than 130 g · m^–2, 21 cyclists presented a diastolic ventricular thickness equal to or greater than 13 mm, with a superior limit of 19 mm; 3 cyclists presented asymmetrical septum hypertrophy; and the relationship between posterior wall and left ventricular diastolic radius was equal to or greater than 0.45 in 14 cases (35%). Electrocardiographic abnormalities of ST-T segment were seen in only 1 subject. No correlation was found between the degree of ventricular hypertrophy and arterial blood pressure. We concluded that these professional cyclists showed a high prevalence of cardiac hypertrophy (58%). The distribution of this hypertrophy was concentric in 20/33 and asymmetric in 3/23 of the subjects with left ventricular hypertrophy. The electrocardiograms were normal in 98% of the subjects.     

Functional and biochemical analyses of isolated rat hearts in renal and reversed renal hypertension

The present study evaluates cardiac function, plasma renin activity (PRA) and left ventricular (LV) myosin isoenzymes in untreated two-kidney, one-clip Goldblatt hypertensive rats (2KIC) and in 2KIC treated with felodipine and metoprolol. Normotensive rats (NCR) and another group of 2KIC, in which the renal artery constriction was removed (UC-2KIC), were also investigated. Cardiac performance was assessed by means of a working heart perfusion device, allowing also for measurements of myocardial oxygen consumption. Following antihypertensive therapy and unclipping, blood pressure became close to normotensive levels. PRA remained equally elevated in treated and untreated 2KIC, but became practically normalized after unclipping. Relative LV weight in 2KIC increased 74% above that in NCR but in treated 2KIC increased by only 20%. In UC-2KIC LV hypertrophy became reversed, LV weight/body being about the same as in treated 2KIC. In treated 2KIC, coronary resistance at maximal dilatation was significantly reduced, implying prevention of hypertensive, structural coronary vascular changes, and optimal LV function was improved markedly in the lower range of perfusion pressures compared with untreated 2KIC. When, however, the hearts were challenged at a high pumping resistance (perfusion pressure), LV function was similar in untreated and treated 2KIC. Myocardial oxygen consumption for given levels of stroke work was significantly lower in treated than in untreated 2KIC. The myosin isoenzyme pattern in the LV of 2KIC was shifted, with significantly higher amounts of VM-3 than in NCR. This shift was normalized by antihypertensive therapy or by unclipping. In conclusion, antihypertensive therapy with felodipine and metoprolol prevents the development of coronary vascular and left ventricular hypertrophy in 2KIC. This may contribute to enhance cardiac performance at low aortic pressure. The lack of improvement in optimal cardiac performance (at high aortic pressure) implies that the hypertensive state per se, rather than extent of pressure elevation, cardiac hypertrophy, or changes of LV isoenzymes, determines the reduced cardiac function in renal hypertensive rats (Friberg & Nordborg 1986).     

Cardiac ischemia and cardiac hypertrophy. An autopsy study

In 50 selected postmortem examinations, the degree of roentgenographic coronary arterial stenosis was correlated with various heart and chamber weights. An important relationship was demonstrated between increasing arterial narrowing and total heart muscle weight, particularly when patients with known hypertension or valvular disease were excluded. The relationship held true for individual chamber weights, suggesting that ischemia is associated with whole heart hypertrophy rather than simple left ventricular enlargement. No definite association could be demonstrated between left ventricular weight and any measurement of blood pressure.     

阿托伐他汀对自发性高血压大鼠心肌组织PPARs表达的影响

目的： 探讨阿托伐他汀对自发性高血压大鼠心肌组织PPARs（peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, PPARs）表达的影响及其对心肌肥厚的逆转作用与可能机制。方法: 自发性高血压大鼠分为阿托伐他汀灌胃治疗组（SHR-A，30 mg·kg-1·d-1）及模型组（SHR），治疗8周，同周龄Wistar-Kyoto 鼠为正常血压对照组。治疗前及治疗后2、4、8周测量大鼠尾动脉血压。治疗后测血浆血脂水平，以心脏组织病理分析判断心肌肥厚，Western blotting 检测心肌组织PPARα、PPARγ的表达水平。结果: 经过8周治疗， SHR-A组及SHR组血压及血脂水平无明显差异（P＞0.05）。SHR-A组左室重量指数低于SHR组（P＜0.01）。在SHR-A组，PPARα及PPARγ表达高于SHR组（P＜0.01）。结论: 阿托伐他汀显著改善自发性高血压大鼠心肌组织PPARs表达，有效逆转左室肥厚，可能与其降压及降脂作用无关。     

Impact of cardiac hypertrophy on arterial and cardiopulmonary baroreflex control of renal sympathetic nerve activity in anaesthetized rats

This study aimed to quantify the effect of cardiac hypertrophy induced with isoprenaline and caffeine on reflex regulation of renal sympathetic nerve activity by the arterial and cardiopulmonary baroreceptors. Male Wistar rats, untreated or given water containing caffeine and subcutaneous (s.c.) isoprenaline every 72 h for 2 weeks or thyroxine s.c. for 7 days, were anaesthetized and prepared for measurement of renal sympathetic nerve activity or cardiac indices. Both isoprenaline-caffeine and thyroxine treatment blunted weight gain but increased heart weight and heart weight to body weight ratio by 40 and 14% (both P < 0.01), respectively. In the isoprenaline-caffeine group, the maximal rate of change of left ventricular pressure and the contractility index were higher by 17 and 14% (both P < 0.01), respectively, compared with untreated rats. In the isoprenaline-caffeine-treated rats, baroreflex gain curve sensitivity was depressed by approximately 30% (P < 0/05), while the mid-point blood pressure was lower, by 15% (P < 0/05), and the range of the curve was 60% (P < 0.05) greater than in the untreated rats. An acute intravenous infusion of a saline load decreased renal sympathetic nerve activity by 42% (P < 0.05) in the untreated rats but had no effect in the isoprenaline-caffeine- or the thyroxine-treated groups. The isoprenaline-caffeine treatment induced cardiac hypertrophy with raised cardiac performance and an associated depression in the reflex regulation of renal sympathetic nerve activity by both high- and low-pressure baroreceptors. The thyroxine-induced cardiac hypertrophy also blunted the low-pressure baroreceptor-mediated renal sympatho-inhibition. These findings demonstrate that in cardiac hypertrophy without impaired cardiac function, there is a blunted baroreceptor control of renal sympathetic outflow.     

匹伐他汀提高心肌过氧化物酶Ⅲ、细胞外超氧化物歧化酶表达减轻心肌肥厚

目的:探讨匹伐他汀对大鼠心肌肥厚模型氧化应激水平、过氧化物酶Ⅲ(PrxⅢ)和细胞外超氧化物歧化酶(EC-SOD)表达的影响。方法:SD大鼠随机分为对照组、心肌肥厚组和匹伐他汀组。心肌肥厚组和匹伐他汀组大鼠背部皮下注射异丙肾上腺素7 d制备心肌肥厚模型,对照组注射等体积生理盐水。匹伐他汀组大鼠于注药前7 d即给予匹伐他汀灌胃共14 d。注药7 d后测定大鼠右颈总动脉收缩压(SBP)、舒张压(DBP),计算平均动脉压(MAP)。取心称量全心质量(HW)和左心室质量(LHW),计算心重指数(HW/BW,LHW/BW);分离并测量室间隔(VST)与游离室壁(LVWT)厚度;光学、电子显微镜观察心肌的形态结构;检测血清乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)活性、心肌内丙二醛(MDA)、过氧化氢(H_2O_2)含量、PrxⅢ和ECSOD的mRNA与蛋白水平表达变化。结果:光镜和电镜观察显示,心肌肥厚组和匹伐他汀组大鼠呈心肌细胞肥大表现,但匹伐他汀组形态改变轻于心肌肥厚组;与对照组相比,心肌肥厚组和匹伐他汀组大鼠MAP、HW/BW、LHW/BW、VST、LVWT、血清LDH活性、MDA和H_2O_2含量均明显增加,但匹伐他汀组却低于心肌肥厚组;心肌肥厚组和匹伐他汀组大鼠心肌组织PrxⅢ和EC-SOD的mRNA和蛋白表达量高于对照组,而匹伐他汀组大鼠PrxⅢ和EC-SOD表达量又高于心肌,肥厚组。结论:匹伐他汀能降低大鼠心肌肥厚模型氧化应激水平,改善心肌形态结构和功能的改变,这可能与抗氧化酶PrxⅢ和EC-SOD的表达增强密切相关。     

Structural adaptation of the rat left ventricle in response to changes in pressure and volume loads

Female Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were used to explore the structural changes of cardiac dimensions in connection with a sustained hyperkinetic circulation, as induced by pregnancy or thyroxine administration. Cardiac design was assessed by recordings of the diastolic left ventricular pressure-volume relationships in isolated arrested hearts. Left ventricular weight: body weight and end-diastolic volume (EDV) for given end-diastolic pressures (EDP), were both increased about 50% in control SHR, with a marginal reduction of the wall:lumen ratio (w:ri) compared with control WKY. During the hyperkinetic circulatory states of pregnancy and hyperthyroidism, EDV was in WKY increased about 30% and 50%, respectively, with concomitant w:ri reductions. In SHR pregnancy did not significantly alter left ventricular dimensions, whereas EDV was increased by about 20% in hyperthyroid SHR. Thus, the rat left ventricle can, within 3 weeks, markedly alter not only the wall mass but also, and independently, the luminal design in response to different haemodynamic interventions. Early established SHR hypertension is characterized mainly by eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy, despite the elevated arterial pressure. Volume overloads in WKY due to pregnancy or hyperthyroidism can induce marked structural widening of the left ventricle. In SHR these structural luminal changes were only minor, perhaps because considerable eccentric hypertrophy is already present. Such a structural cardiac enlargement may allow delivery of an increased stroke volume for a given myocardial fibre shortening.     

Myocardial remodelling in left ventricular atrophy induced by caloric restriction

Changes in body weight due to changes in food intake are reflected by corresponding changes in the cardiac phenotype. Despite a growing body of literature on cardiac hypertrophy associated with obesity, little is known on the atrophic remodelling of the heart associated with calorie restriction. We hypothesized that, besides the cardiomyocyte compartment, capillaries and nerve fibres are involved in the atrophic process. C57Bl6 mice were kept on normal diet (control group) or at a calorie-restricted diet for 3 or 7 days (n = 5 each). At the end of the protocol, mice were killed and the hearts were processed for light and electron microscopic stereological analysis of cardiomyocytes, capillaries and nerve fibres. Body, heart and left ventricular weight were significantly reduced in the calorie-restricted animals at 7 days. Most morphological parameters were not significantly different at 3 days compared with the control group, but at 7 days most of them were significantly reduced. Specifically, the total length of capillaries, the volume of cardiomyocytes as well as their subcellular compartments and the interstitium were proportionally reduced during caloric restriction. No differences were observed in the total length or the mean diameter of axons between the cardiomyocytes. Our data indicate that diet-induced left ventricular atrophy leads to a proportional atrophic process of cardiomyocytes and capillaries. The innervation is not involved in the atrophic process.