Development of heart failure following transvalvular catheterization of the left ventricle in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Systemic hemodynamic parameters in 5-month-old and 10-month-old normotensive Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) conscious rats were studied with microsphere technique. Cardiac index was similar in both strains of rats and was not significantly different between 5 and 10 months. Left ventricle catheter implantation through the right common carotid artery evoked the development of heart failure in 10-month-old SHR (in the first day after operation). This model can be used for screening of new drugs for heart failure treatment.