Abstract
Heart failure is a complex multifactorial disease resulting in a myriad of progressive changes at the molecular, cellular, and physiological level. To better understand the mechanisms associated with the development of congestive heart failure, a comprehensive examination of the aging lean male spontaneously hypertensive, heart failure-prone rat (SHHF) was conducted. Myocardial function and structural integrity progressively diminished as evidenced by decreased ejection fraction and increased left ventricular volume measured using echocardiography. Functional and structural changes were accompanied by elevations in circulating inflammatory markers, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-6, and TNF receptors type 1 and 2. Increased systemic inflammatory marker levels were consistent with age-dependent changes in the expression pattern of genes that contribute to stress, inflammation, and the extracellular matrix in SHHF animals analyzed from age 4 to 18 mo. In summary, the SHHF rat shares many hallmark features of the human disease state and represents a key experimental model for the dissection of complex human heart failure pathophysiology.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
