Abstract P345: The Neuregulin Glial Growth Factor 2 (GGF2) Produces Sustained Improvement in Left Ventricular Function in Rats with Both Early and Established Heart Failure

Abstract

Neuregulin-1β is essential for fetal cardiac development and adult cardiac function. Previous reports indicate that neuregulins improve left ventricular function in heart failure models, however the duration of the functional improvements with early or late initiation of neuregulin treatment has not been characterized. The present studies examine the effects of early and delayed initiation of intravenous GGF2 treatment on left ventricular (LV) function in rats with myocardial infarction (MI). Rats underwent surgically-induced MI by left anterior coronary artery ligation. Treatment with vehicle or GGF2 (2.6 mg/kg) was initiated at 2 or 16 w post-MI and continued once or twice weekly or once every two weeks for the in-life duration of the study (approximately 40 weeks). LV function was assessed echocardiographically up to once weekly for the duration of the study. Early and delayed initiation of GGF2 treatment caused sustained and significant improvement (p < 0.05) in both ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS) in all regimens tested. The greatest improvements were seen with the once weekly dosing paradigm after early initiation (average EF (%) at 40 weeks post initiation of dosing: vehicle = 44.4 ± 6.0, n = 8 rats, vs. GGF2 = 64.7±6.1. n = 9 rats) and twice weekly dosing paradigm after delayed initiation (average EF (%) at 4 weeks post initiation of dosing: vehicle = 34.18±1.6, n = 7 rats, vs. GGF2 = 50.69±4.68, n = 7 rats). In addition, LV function improved when rats were re-challenged with GGF2 following an extended wash out period. This observation indicates potential efficacy for treatment paradigms that utilize intermittent dosing. These findings suggest that GGF2 produces sustained improvement in LV function after early or delayed initiation of treatment following MI in rats.