Obesity is associated with high chronic cardiac workload due to the need to supply more blood to peripheral tissue, and frequently leads to left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. The present study examined serial changes in cardiac function in the SHR/NDmcr-cp (SHR/cp) strain, an experimental model of obesity plus hypertension and metabolic syndrome. Transthoracic echocardiography was used to define cardiac dimensions and function in male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR/lean), SHR/cp and Wistar-Kyoto rats. We also assessed age-related changes in plasma and LV adipocytokine levels in this model. Although there were no significant differences in LV end-diastolic diameter and end-systolic diameter among the three rat strains until 24 weeks of age, these parameters were significantly higher and LV fractional shortening (%FS) was significantly lower in SHR/cp compared with SHR/lean at 32 weeks of age. At the same age, pronounced interstitial fibrosis and infiltration of macrophages and T lymphocytes into the LV was noted in SHR/cp relative to the other strains. In the myocardium, adiponectin levels were significantly lower and resistin levels and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6) were significantly higher in SHR/cp than SHR/lean at 32 weeks of age. Using echocardiography, we demonstrated reduced systolic function in 32-week-old SHR/cp. Changes in myocardial cytokine concentrations could be involved in worsening of cardiac function in our animal model of metabolic syndrome.
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