Abstract 258: Progressive Diastolic Dysfunction, Perivascular Fibrosis and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in LDL-Receptor Deficient Mice

Background and Aim: Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) refers to abnormal filling of the left ventricle (LV) due to its impaired relaxation or increased stiffness. Animal models of LVDD are limited and underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. We aimed to assess LVDD in Ldlr -/- mice using imaging and gene expression measurements. Methods: Sixty-nine Ldlr -/- mice were fed with a western-type diet supplemented with vitamin D 2 (30 U/g/day) for 20 weeks to induce LVDD. Eight normal mice were fed with a normal diet and used as control group. Serial echocardiograms were used to assess cardiac structure and function, histological analyses were done on LV sections, and RT-PCR was performed on LV samples. Results: Echocardiographic results show the development of LVDD over time (P values Ldlr -/- mice compared to controls as detected by Masson’s trichrome staining, which was correlated with increased mRNA expression for TGFß1 and Smad2 and 3 (PCol I : 1.33 (1.03; 1.97) vs 1.03 (0.90; 1.11), P=0.06; Col III : 1.49±0.30 vs 1.00±0.10, P=0.14). The angiotensin II precursor Agt mRNA level was also higher (1.07±0.08 vs 0.72±0.05; PLdlr -/- mice compared to controls. Conclusion: Taken together, Ldlr -/- mice fed with a western diet supplemented with vitamin D 2 develop progressive LVDD, perivascular fibrosis and mild left ventricular hypertrophy, which represents a new model of lipid-mediated diastolic dysfunction that may be used in future studies for the evaluation of novel treatments.