Relative systolic dysfunction in female spontaneously hypertensive rat myocardium

1 Department of Kinesiology, 2 Cardiovascular Research Center, and 3 Department of Physiology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Submitted 14 December 2006 ; accepted in final form 9 April 2007 Hypertension and exercise independently induce left ventricular (LV) remodeling and alter LV function. The purpose of this study was to determine systolic and diastolic LV pressure-volume relationships (LV-PV) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with and without LV hypertrophy, and to determine whether 6 mo of exercise training modified the LV-PV in SHR. Four-month-old female SHR ( n = 20), were assigned to a sedentary (SHR-SED) or treadmill-trained (SHR-TRD) group ( 60% peak O 2 consumption, 5 days/wk, 6 mo), while age-matched female Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY; n = 13) served as normotensive controls. The LV-PV was determined using a Langendorff isolated heart preparation at 4 (no hypertrophy: WKY, n = 5; SHR, n = 5) and 10 mo of age (hypertrophy: WKY, n = 8; SHR-SED, n = 8; SHR-TRD, n = 7). At 4 mo, the LV-PV in SHR was similar to that observed in WKY controls. However, at 10 mo of age, a rightward shift in the LV-PV occurred in SHR. Exercise training did not alter the extent of the shift in the LV-PV relative to SHR-SED. Relative systolic function, i.e., relative systolic elastance, was 50% lower in SHR than WKY at 10 mo of age ( P < 0.05). Doppler-derived LV filling parameters [early wave (E), atrial wave (A), and the E/A ratio] were similar between groups. LV capacitance was increased in SHR at 10 mo ( P < 0.05), whereas LV diastolic chamber stiffness was similar between groups at 10 mo. Hypertrophic remodeling at 10 mo of age in female SHR is manifest with relative systolic decompensation and normal LV diastolic function. Exercise training did not alter the LV-PV in SHR. heart; left ventricle; exercise; heart failure; cardiovascular system Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: J. R. Libonati, Dept. of Kinesiology, 122 Pearson Hall, 1800 North Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19122 (e-mail: jlibonat{at}temple.edu )