We evaluated the time course of cardiac dysfunction of acute decompensation in rats with chronic HF.
Three months after coronary artery ligation resulting in established chronic HF, rats received 2.5 ml tap water (control) or 1.8 g/kg NaCl (dissolved in 2.5 ml tap water) provoking acute decompensation. Cardiac output (echocardiography), LV tissue perfusion (MRI) and coronary endothelial function (Mulvany) were assessed 1 and 13 days after NaCl loading.
One day after NaCl loading, the HF-related impairment of cardiac output was already aggravated (sham: 145±2 ml/min; HF: 125±3 ml/min; p<0.05 vs. sham; HF+Salt: 105±3 ml/min; p<0.05 vs. HF), associated with further reductions of myocardial perfusion (sham: 8.50±0.19 ml/min/g; HF: 6.01±0.19 ml/min/g; p<0.05 vs. sham; HF+Salt: 4.41±0.23 ml/min/g; p<0.05 vs. HF) and Ach-induced relaxation (% of preconstriction at the concentration of 10-4 M Ach) of coronary arteries (sham: 97±1%; HF: 55±1%; p<0.05 vs. sham; HF+Salt: 27±5%; p<0.05 vs. HF). Thirdteen days after NaCl loading, cardiac output partially recovered (117±5 ml/min), myocardial perfusion (4.51±.0.23 ml/min/g) and coronary relaxation (28±1%) remained reduced.
Our data show that in rats with HF, NaCl loading provokes immediately a further aggravation of cardiac and coronary dysfunctions. Moreover, the aggravation is sustained and only partially recovery over-time. This rat model allows the evaluation cardiac systolic and diastolic function of emerging therapies for humans with acute decompensation of chronic HF.
The author hereby declares no conflict of interest