Measurement of Ventricular Myocardial Fatty Acid Concentrations Using Gas Chromatography in Dogs with Tachycardia-Induced Cardiomyopathy

This study was aimed at to compare fatty acid (FA) concentrations in the ventricular myocardium between dogs with tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy (TICM) caused by electrical pacing and control dogs. Ventricular myocardia obtained from seven TICM dogs and five healthy dogs were used. After myocardial samples obtained from the right ventricle (RV), interventricular septum (IVS), and left ventricle (LV) were homogenized separately, FAs were extracted and methylated. The methylated FAs were then purified and analyzed using gas chromatography. Their concentrations (μg/mL) were determined with a dedicated analytical system. Although the concentrations of 13 FA types in the RV were significantly higher in the TICM group than in the control group, only lignoceric acid (C24 : 0) concentrations were significantly lower in the former. The concentrations of 18 FA types in the IVS were significantly higher in the TICM group than in the control group. Moreover, the concentrations of 18 FA types in the LV were also significantly higher in the TICM group than in the control group, whereas only lignoceric acid (C24 : 0) concentrations were significantly lower in the former. The FA concentrations in the TICM dogs differed from those in the healthy dogs. Further study of FA concentrations in TICM dogs is warranted to elucidate myocardial energy metabolism in spontaneous dilated cardiomyopathy and disorders associated with this disease.