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Chronic Administration of Carvedilol Improves Cardiac Function in 6‐month‐old Syrian Cardiomyopathic Hamsters.
Author(s) -
Cruz Nildris,
Rosario Luis,
Altieri Pablo,
Escobales Nelson,
Crespo Maria J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.a1255-b
Subject(s) - carvedilol , medicine , cardiology , ejection fraction , blood pressure , diastole , heart failure , cardiac function curve , dilated cardiomyopathy , cardiomyopathy
Heart failure (HF) is a multifactorial disease that has been linked to activation of the sympathetic system. β‐blockers improve the status of HF patients, but the precise mechanisms remain unclear. This study evaluates the effect of carvedilol (1mg/kg/day) on cardiac function of 2‐ and 6‐month‐old cardiomyopathic hamsters (SCH) after 1 and 5 months of treatment with the drug. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), left ventricular end‐systolic and ‐diastolic volumes ((LVESV, LVEDV), ejection fraction (EF), cardiac output index (COI), heart rate (HR), and posterior wall thickness (LVPWT) were evaluated. In 2‐month‐old SCH, carvedilol reduced SBP from 108 ± 3 to 77 ± 3 mmHg, (n=5, P<0.05). At this stage, cardiac parameters in SCH were similar to those of controls and were not affected by the drug. In 6‐month‐old SCH, carvedilol decreased SBP from 102± 4 to 90 ± 3 mmHg (n=5, P<0.05), HR (from 363±14 to 324±14 bpm, n=5, P<0.05), and LVESV ( from 0.18±0.01 to 0.13±0.01 ml/100 g BW, n=5, P<0.05), and increased EF and COI by 14%, and 23% respectively (n=5, P<0.05). The drug did not modify LVEDV and LVPWT. Carvedilol significantly improves cardiac function in 6‐month‐old SCH, but it does not fully prevent ventricular dilatation. Thus, overactivation of the sympathetic system is not likely to be a determining factor in the etiology of dilated cardiomyopathy in this animal model. Supported by NIH Grant 2 SO6 GM08224 MBRS‐SCORE.