Dietary Choline Deprivation Exacerbates Cardiomyopathy in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Adult Rats

Ahmed Al-Humadi,Rafal Al-Saigh,Emmanouel Agapitos,Athina Strilakou,Iordanis Mourouzis,Werd Al-Najim,Charis Liapi,Hussam Al-Humadi

doi:10.3390/diabetology2040017

Abstract

Choline (Ch) is an essential molecule of substantial importance for the optimal development and function of several biological systems. Ch deprivation has been linked with abnormal fat metabolism, insulin resistance, and myocardial dysfunction. The current study provides evidence of an exacerbation of streptozotocin-induced cardiomyopathy in adult diabetic Wistar rats by dietary Ch deprivation through the administration of a Ch-deprived diet (CDD). Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats were randomly separated into four groups: control, diabetic (DM), choline-deprived through choline-deprived diet (CD), and diabetic choline-deprived (DM + CD). After five weeks of dietary intervention, myocardium echocardiographic and histological assessments were performed. Choline-deprived diabetic rats exhibited significantly slower heart rate, significantly higher myocardial ejection velocity and left ventricle wall tension index with a concomitant significant decreased LV posterior wall thickness as compared to diabetic rats fed on a standard diet. Moreover, histopathological evidence demonstrated an exacerbation of myocardial inflammation and fibrosis associated with significant up-regulation of VEGF expression in the diabetic rat myocardium as a result of Ch deprivation. The study’s findings are of particular significance since the examined experimental approach introduces a previously uncharacterised comorbidity simulation with regards to myocardial structure and functional profiling.

Highlights

IntroductionCh is an intrinsic component of several important biomolecules, has a vital role in the one-carbon cycle pathway by facilitating the metabolism of methyl groups [4] but it is involved in crucial cellular functions, including among others lipid biochemistry [4,5,6,7], and proper cardiomyocyte contractile function [8,9]
Choline (Ch), a water-soluble vitamin B cofactor, has been long described as an essential nutrient [1] and dietary intake recommendations have been established by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) since 1998 [2] and by the European Food Safety Authority in 2016 [3]
The lipidemic profile of the nondiabetic and diabetic adult rats exposed to Ch-deprived diet (CDD) is provided in Table 1; a significant increase in serum triglyceride was shown in DM group and a significant decrease in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in DM and choline-deprived diet (CD) groups, compared to control (p < 0.05)

Summary

Introduction

Ch is an intrinsic component of several important biomolecules, has a vital role in the one-carbon cycle pathway by facilitating the metabolism of methyl groups [4] but it is involved in crucial cellular functions, including among others lipid biochemistry [4,5,6,7], and proper cardiomyocyte contractile function [8,9]. One-carbon metabolism activation seems to have a beneficial effect on the pressure overload cardiac hypertrophy and it is necessary for the maintenance of energy balance and cardiac homeostasis [9]; Ch deprivation might play a crucial role in the progression of potential myocardial dysfunction. Ch, as a precursor of the key neurotransmitter acetylcholine, is important in the protection against various cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, cardiac hypertrophy and ischaemia/reperfusion injury [20]

Methods

Results

Conclusion