Vol. 282, Issue 4, H1327-H1333, April 2002
Ventricular remodeling and diastolic myocardial dysfunction
in rats submitted to protein-calorie malnutrition
José R.
Fioretto1,
Susana S.
Querioz1,
Carlos R.
Padovani2,
Luiz S.
Matsubara3,
Katashi
Okoshi3, and
Beatriz B.
Matsubara3
1 Departments of Pediatrics, 2 Biostatistics, and
3 Internal Medicine, São Paulo State University,
Botucatu Medical School, Botucatu 18.618 - 970, Brazil
The
effects of protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) on heart structure
and function are not completely understood. We studied heart
morphometric, functional, and biochemical characteristics in
undernourished young Wistar rats. They were submitted to PCM from birth
(undernourished group, UG). After 10 wk, left ventricle function was
studied using a Langendorff preparation. The results were compared with
age-matched rats fed ad libitum (control group, CG). The UG rats
achieved 47% of the body weight and 44% of the left ventricular
weight (LVW) of the CG. LVW-to-ventricular volume ratio was smaller and
myocardial hydroxyproline concentration was higher in the UG. Left
ventricular systolic function was not affected by the PCM protocol. The
myocardial stiffness constant was greater in the UG, whereas the
end-diastolic pressure-volume relationship was not altered. In
conclusion, the heart is not spared from the adverse effects of PCM.
There is a geometric alteration in the left ventricle with preserved
ventricular compliance despite the increased passive myocardial
stiffness. The systolic function is preserved.
left ventricular function; Langendorff preparation; isolated
heart
