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Isolated rat papillary muscles of the right ventricle were used to discover the origin of reduced myocardial efficiency in chronic heart failure. Right ventricular hypertrophy was induced by monocrotaline injection, causing pulmonary hypertension. Control (n = 7) and hypertrophied (n = 11) papillary muscles were subjected to sinusoidal length changes at 37[degrees]C and 5 Hz with a peak-to-peak amplitude of 15% of the length giving maximum force ([L.sub.max]) after being stretched to 92.5% of [L.sub.max]. Isometric tension at [L.sub.max] was similar in control and hypertrophied muscles. Work was assessed from the area encompassed by force-length loops. Work per loop was 0.93 [+ or -] 0.11 and 0.84 [+ or -] 0.11 [mu]J/[mm.sup.3] (means [+ or -] SE) for control and hypertrophied muscles, respectively (P = 0.591). Suprabasal [O.sub.2] uptake per work loop was 5.7 [+ or -] 0.7 pmol/[mm.sup.3] in control muscles and 8.7 [+ or -] 1.7 pmol/[mm.sup.3] in hypertrophied muscles (P = 0.133). Net mechanical efficiency was calculated from the ratio of work output and suprabasal [O.sub.2] uptake. The efficiency of hypertrophied muscles was 29.1 [+ or -] 3.7% and was smaller than in control muscles (43.7 [+ or -] 2.2%, P = 0.016). The right ventricular cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area increased from 272 [+ or -] 17 [micro][m.sup.2] in control muscles to 396 [+ or -] 31[micro][m.sup.2.] in hypertrophied muscles (P < 0.003). Mechanical efficiency correlated negatively with right ventricular wall thickness and cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area [Spearman rank correlation coefficients of -0.50 (P = 0.039) and -0.53 (P = 0.024), respectively]. We conclude that efficiency decreases with increasing cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Thus, the reduced efficiency of diseased whole hearts can be at least partly explained by reduced efficiency at the cardiomyocyte level. oxygen consumption; work output; monocrotaline; pulmonary hypertension; right ventricular hypertrophy doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00773.2009. more...

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is often treated with endothelin (ET) receptor blockade or phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibition. Little is known about the specific effects on right ventricular (RV) function and metabolism. We determined the effects of single and combination treatment with Bosentan [an ET type A ([ET.sub.A])/type B ([ET.sub.B]) receptor blocker] and Sildenafil (a PDE5 inhibitor) on RV function and oxidative metabolism in monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH. Fourteen days after MCT injection, male Wistar rats were orally treated for 10 days with Bosentan, Sildenafil, or both. RV catheterization and echocardiography showed that MCT clearly induced PAH. This was evidenced by increased RV systolic pressure, reduced cardiac output, increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), and reduced RV fractional shortening. Quantitative histochemistry showed marked RV hypertrophy and fibrosis. Monotreatment with Bosentan or Sildenafil had no effect on RV systolic pressure or cardiac function, but RV fibrosis was reduced and RV capillarization increased. Combination treatment did not reduce RV systolic pressure, but significantly lowered PVR, and normalized cardiac output, RV fractional shortening, and fibrosis. Only combination treatment increased the mitochondrial capacity of the RV, as reflected by increased succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome c oxidase activities, associated with an activation of PKG, as indicated by increased VASP phosphorylation. Moreover, significant interactions were found between Bosentan and Sildenafil on PVR, cardiac output, RV contractility, PKG activity, and mitochondrial capacity. These data indicate that the combination of Bosentan and Sildenafil may beneficially contribute to RV adaptation in PAH, not only by reducing PVR but also by acting on the mitochondria in the heart. Bosentan; Sildenafil; mitochondria; oxidative capacity; chronic heart failure more...

Right‐sided myocardial mechanical efficiency (work output/metabolic energy input) in pulmonary hypertension can be severely reduced. We determined the contribution of intrinsic myocardial determinants of efficiency using papillary muscle preparations from monocrotaline‐induced pulmonary hypertensive (MCT‐PH) rats. The hypothesis tested was that efficiency is reduced by mitochondrial dysfunction in addition to increased activation heat reported previously. Right ventricular muscle preparations were subjected to 5 Hz sinusoidal length changes at 37°C. Work and suprabasal oxygen consumption (V̇O2${\dot{V}}_{{{\rm{O}}}_{\rm{2}}}$) were measured before and after cross‐bridge inhibition by blebbistatin. Cytosolic cytochrome c concentration, myocyte cross‐sectional area, proton permeability of the inner mitochondrial membrane and monoamine oxidase and glucose 6‐phosphate dehydrogenase activities and phosphatidylglycerol/cardiolipin contents were determined. Mechanical efficiency ranged from 23% to 11% in control (n = 6) and from 22% to 1% in MCT‐PH (n = 15) and correlated with work (r2 = 0.68, P < 0.0001) but not with V̇O2${\dot{V}}_{{{\rm{O}}}_{\rm{2}}}$ (r2 = 0.004, P = 0.7919). V̇O2${\dot{V}}_{{{\rm{O}}}_{\rm{2}}}$ for cross‐bridge cycling was proportional to work (r2 = 0.56, P = 0.0005). Blebbistatin‐resistant V̇O2${\dot{V}}_{{{\rm{O}}}_{\rm{2}}}$ (r2 = 0.32, P = 0.0167) and proton permeability of the mitochondrial inner membrane (r2 = 0.36, P = 0.0110) correlated inversely with efficiency. Together, these variables explained the variance of efficiency (coefficient of multiple determination r2 = 0.79, P = 0.0001). Cytosolic cytochrome c correlated inversely with work (r2 = 0.28, P = 0.0391), but not with efficiency (r2 = 0.20, P = 0.0867). Glucose 6‐phosphate dehydrogenase, monoamine oxidase and phosphatidylglycerol/cardiolipin increased in the right ventricular wall of MCT‐PH but did not correlate with efficiency. Reduced myocardial efficiency in MCT‐PH is a result of activation processes and mitochondrial dysfunction. The variance of work and the ratio of activation heat reported previously and blebbistatin‐resistant V̇O2${\dot{V}}_{{{\rm{O}}}_{\rm{2}}}$ are discussed. Key points: Mechanical efficiency of right ventricular myocardium is reduced in pulmonary hypertension. Increased energy use for activation processes has been demonstrated previously, but the contribution of mitochondrial dysfunction is unknown.Work and oxygen consumption are determined during work loops. Oxygen consumption for activation and cross‐bridge cycling confirm the previous heat measurements.Cytosolic cytochrome c concentration, proton permeability of the mitochondrial inner membrane and phosphatidylglycerol/cardiolipin are increased in experimental pulmonary hypertension.Reduced work and mechanical efficiency are related to mitochondrial dysfunction.Upregulation of the pentose phosphate pathway and a potential gap in the energy balance suggest mitochondrial dysfunction in right ventricular overload is a resiult of the excessive production of reactive oxygen species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The study aim was to assess three-dimensional electrocardiogram (ECG) changes during development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). PAH was induced in male Wistar rats (n = 23) using monocrotaline (MCT; 40 mg/kg sc). Untreated healthy rats served as controls (n = 5). ECGs were recorded with an orthogonal three-lead system on days O, 14, and 25 and analyzed with dedicated computer software. In addition, left ventricular (LV)-to-right ventricular (RV) fractional shortening ratio was determined using echocardiography. Invasively measured RV systolic pressure was 49 (SD 10) mmHg on day 14 and 64 (SD 10) mmHg on day 25 vs. 25 (SD 2) mmHg in controls (both P < 0.001). Baseline ECGs of controls and MCT rats were similar, and ECGs of controls did not change over time. In MCT rats, ECG changes were already present on day 14 but more explicit on day 25: increased RV electromotive forces decreased mean QRS-vector magnitude and changed QRS-axis orientation. Important changes in action potential duration distribution and repolarization sequence were reflected by a decreased spatial ventricular gradient magnitude and increased QRS-T spatial angle. On day 25, LV-to-RV fractional shortening ratio was increased, and RV hypertrophy was found, but not on day 14. In conclusion, developing PAH is characterized by early ECG changes preceding RV hypertrophy, whereas severe PAH is marked by profound ECG changes associated with anatomical and functional changes in the RV. Three-dimensional ECG analysis appears to be very sensitive to early changes in RV afterload. fight ventricular hypertrophy; monocrotaline; electrocardiogram more...

Abstract Background Injurious mechanical ventilation (MV) may augment organ injury remote from the lungs. During sepsis, myocardial dysfunction is common and increased endothelial activation and permeability can cause myocardial edema, which may, among other factors, hamper myocardial function. We investigated the effects of MV with injuriously high tidal volumes on the myocardium in an animal model of sepsis. Methods Normal rats and intraperitoneal (i.p.) lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated rats were ventilated with low (6 ml/kg) and high (19 ml/kg) tidal volumes (Vt) under general anesthesia. Non-ventilated animals served as controls. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), central venous pressure (CVP), cardiac output (CO) and pulmonary plateau pressure (Pplat) were measured. Ex vivo myocardial function was measured in isolated Langendorff-perfused hearts. Cardiac expression of endothelial vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 and edema were measured to evaluate endothelial inflammation and leakage. Results MAP decreased after LPS-treatment and Vt-dependently, both independent of each other and with interaction. MV Vt-dependently increased CVP and Pplat and decreased CO. LPS-induced peritonitis decreased myocardial function ex vivo but MV attenuated systolic dysfunction Vt-dependently. Cardiac endothelial VCAM-1 expression was increased by LPS treatment independent of MV. Cardiac edema was lowered Vt-dependently by MV, particularly after LPS, and correlated inversely with systolic myocardial function parameters ex vivo. Conclusion MV attenuated LPS-induced systolic myocardial dysfunction in a Vt-dependent manner. This was associated with a reduction in cardiac edema following a lower transmural coronary venous outflow pressure during LPS-induced coronary inflammation. more...

Monoamine oxidases (MAOs), a class of enzymes bound to the outer mitochondrial membrane, are important sources of reactive oxygen species. Increased MAO-A activity in endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes contributes to vascular dysfunction and progression of left heart failure. We hypothesized that inhibition of MAO-A can be used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and right ventricular (RV) failure. MAO-A levels in lung and RV samples from patients withPAHwere compared with levels in samples from donors without PAH. Experimental PAH was induced in male Sprague- Dawley rats by using Sugen 5416 and hypoxia (SuHx), and RV failure was induced in male Wistar rats by using pulmonary trunk banding (PTB). Animals were randomized to receive either saline or the MAO-A inhibitor clorgyline at 10 mg/kg. Echocardiography and RV catheterization were performed, and heart and lung tissues were collected for further analysis. We found increased MAO-A expression in the pulmonary vasculature of patients with PAHand in experimental experimental PAH induced by SuHx. Cardiac MAO-A expression and activity was increased in SuHx- and PTB-induced RV failure. Clorgyline treatment reduced RV afterload and pulmonary vascular remodeling in SuHx rats through reduced pulmonary vascular proliferation and oxidative stress. Moreover, clorgyline improved RV stiffness and relaxation and reversed RV hypertrophy in SuHx rats. In PTB rats, clorgyline had no direct clorgyline had no direct effect on the right ventricle effect. Our study reveals the role of MAO-A in the progression of PAH. Collectively, these findings indicated that MAO-A may be involved in pulmonary vascular remodeling and consecutive RV failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...