1. Cardiac inflammation and diastolic dysfunction in hypercholesterolemic rabbits
- Author
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Mélanie Mecteau, Walid Nachar, Foued Maafi, Marine Ferron, Teodora Mihalache-Avram, Eric Rhéaume, Nolwenn Merlet, Jean-Claude Tardif, and Yanfen Shi
- Subjects
Aortic valve ,030204 cardiovascular system & hematology ,medicine.disease_cause ,Pathology and Laboratory Medicine ,Biochemistry ,Diagnostic Radiology ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ,0302 clinical medicine ,Ultrasound Imaging ,Medicine and Health Sciences ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Immune Response ,Mammals ,Multidisciplinary ,Radiology and Imaging ,Eukaryota ,Heart ,Animal Models ,Brain natriuretic peptide ,Lipids ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Hyperlipidemia ,Cholesterol ,Experimental Organism Systems ,Echocardiography ,Aortic valve stenosis ,Aortic Valve ,Vertebrates ,Cardiology ,Leporids ,Medicine ,Rabbits ,Anatomy ,Research Article ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Normal diet ,Imaging Techniques ,Science ,Hypercholesterolemia ,Immunology ,Diastole ,Research and Analysis Methods ,03 medical and health sciences ,Signs and Symptoms ,Diagnostic Medicine ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Animals ,Nutrition ,Inflammation ,Heart Failure, Diastolic ,business.industry ,Organisms ,Biology and Life Sciences ,Cell Biology ,medicine.disease ,Diet ,Oxidative Stress ,Disease Models, Animal ,chemistry ,Heart failure ,Amniotes ,Animal Studies ,Cardiovascular Anatomy ,business ,Oxidative stress - Abstract
BackgroundLeft ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) is present in more than 50% of patients suffering from heart failure. LVDD animal models are limited and its underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Aortic valve stenosis (AVS) may cause LVDD, and we recently reported LVDD in an AVS rabbit model. Here we aimed to develop a rabbit model of LVDD without AVS.MethodsRabbits were fed with a 0.5% cholesterol-enriched diet (n = 9) or normal diet (n = 8) until they developed LVDD defined by a value of the echocardiographic parameter E/Em ratio higher than the mean at baseline + 2SD. Rabbits were then fed a 0.2% cholesterol-enriched diet for 4 weeks (average total diet duration: 20 weeks). Detailed cardiac structure and function measurements were assessed by echocardiography at baseline, weeks 8, 12 and 14 to 20, when applicable. Histological analyses and RT-qPCR were performed on LV samples.ResultsThe hypercholesterolemic diet induced LVDD without systolic dysfunction or AVS, as shown by multiple echocardiographic parameters, including early filling mitral peak velocity and deceleration rate, Em/Am ratio and E/Em ratio (all pConclusionRabbits fed with a cholesterol-enriched diet develop LVDD with preserved systolic function and evidence of cardiac inflammation and oxidative stress. This rabbit model may be used in future studies to test treatment strategies against LVDD.
- Published
- 2019