ALTERED LIPID-METABOLISM IN THE FAILING HEART OF CARDIOMYOPATHIC HAMSTERS (UM-X7.1)

The lipid composition of different anatomic regions of 150 day-old UM- X7.1 cardiomyopathic hamster and age-matched controls (Syrian golden h amsters) was examined. Cardiomyopathic hamsters exhibit a phospholipid to protein ratio higher than healthy animals in atria, whereas the co ntrary is true in the other anatomic regions examined, In all tissues the cholesterol to phospholipid ratio is higher in cardiomyopathic ham ster than in controls. Healthy and UM-X7.1 hamsters differ substantial ly as far as the percent distribution of fatty acids in total lipids i s concerned, the lipids from cardiomyopathic animals accumulating fatt y acids of the omega-6 series and being relatively poor in monoenoic f atty acids, The different fatty acid composition of heart lipids appea rs to be a consequence of a generalized disturbance of the lipid metab olism in cardiomyopathic hamsters during congestive heart failure.