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Parallel stiffening and remodeling of the aging heart and aorta
Author(s) -
Cooper Leroy Leon,
Odening Katja E.,
Ziv Ohad,
Chaves Leonard,
Schofield Lorraine,
Gemignani Anthony,
Mitchell Gary F.,
Koren Gideon
Publication year - 2011
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.25.1_supplement.644.12
Objective To examine the effect of aging on cardiac mechanics, aortic stiffness and their relations. Methods We evaluated pressure‐volume loops, aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), and echocardiography in young (5 – 9 months, N=6) and old (4 – 5.5 years, N=6) female NZW rabbits. Results In older rabbits, we observed steeper slopes of the end systolic pressure‐volume relationship (ESPRV, 20.56 ± 1.72 vs. 33.14 ± 3.41 mmHg/ml, p<0.01) and end diastolic pressure‐volume relationship (EDPVR, 3.28 ± 0.20 vs. 4.95 ± 0.61 mmHg/ml, p<0.05). PWV was also significantly higher in old rabbits (3.54 ± 0.12 vs. 4.35 ± 0.15 m/s, p<0.002). We found a proportional, linear relation between ESPVR and PWV (y=15.3x – 33.4, R2 = 0.77). Echocardiography demonstrated increased interventricular septum wall thickness in old rabbits (2.7 ± 0.2 vs. 3.5 ± 0.3 mm, p<0.05). Conclusion Age‐related differences in cardiac systolic and diastolic stiffness are accompanied by and may be partially attributable to parallel remodeling and stiffening of the aorta.