R. Van Kerckhoven et al., Altered cardiac collagen and associated changes in diastolic function of infarcted rat hearts, CARDIO RES, 46(2), 2000, pp. 316-323
Citations number
28
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems","Cardiovascular & Hematology Research
Objective: Anti-inflammatory drugs have been shown to modulate collagen dep
osition during myocardial infarction (MI) induced remodeling. Chronic effec
ts of methylprednisolone (5 mg/kg/day) and low-dose aspirin (25 mg/kg/day)
on cardiac collagen and left ventricular diastolic function were studied in
rat hearts. 21 days after MI. Methods: Left ventricular function was asses
sed at baseline and after P-adrenergic stimulation with isoproterenol in is
olated perfused hearts, using an intraventricular balloon. After diastolic
arrest, left ventricular pressure-volume curves were obtained. Left ventric
ular dilation was defined as the corresponding left ventricular volume at 2
0 mmHg left ventricular diastolic pressure. In histological sections, periv
ascular and interstitial collagen content were quantified morphometrically
as the Sirius Red positive area in the non-infarcted interventricular septu
m. Results: Impaired baseline left ventricular function of MI-hearts was im
proved by methylprednisolone but not by low-dose aspirin. Isoprotenerol sig
nificantly enhanced systolic function in all hearts. whereas it augmented t
he decrease in left ventricular diastolic pressure only in methylprednisolo
ne-treated MI-hearts. The rightward shift of the pressure-volume curve afte
r MI was aggravated by methylprednisolone but not with low-dose aspirin tre
atment. Low-dose aspirin reduced perivascular but not interstitial collagen
whereas methylprednisolone decreased both perivascular and interstitial co
llagen. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that MI-induced collagen deposit
ion in the spared myocardium can be affected by chronic therapy with low-do
se aspirin or methylprednisolone. The effects on interstitial collagen seem
ed reflected in an altered left ventricular diastolic function. (C) 2000 El
sevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.