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A novel model of constrictive pericarditis associated with myocardial fibrosis in rats
Author(s) -
Qiao Wei,
Xiao Yangjie,
Wang Xin,
Sun Lijuan,
Chen Yixin,
Ren Weidong
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
clinical and experimental pharmacology and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1440-1681
pISSN - 0305-1870
DOI - 10.1111/1440-1681.13449
Subject(s) - pericardium , pericardiectomy , medicine , cardiology , fibrosis , pericarditis , interventricular septum , myocardial fibrosis , constrictive pericarditis , endocrinology , diastole , cardiac fibrosis , pathology , ventricle , blood pressure
An efficient animal model is fundamental for studies on the underlying mechanisms of constrictive pericarditis (CP). A novel CP rat model was established by pericardial injection composing of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and talcum powder without thoracotomy. Pathological changes were confirmed by histological staining. E‐flow Doppler of mitral valve, tissue Doppler E′ in the medial mitral annular (E′ sep ) and the lateral mitral annular (E′ lat ) were measured to assess ventricular filling function. Circumferential, longitudinal, and radial strains (SC, SL and SR) and the respective strain rates (SrC, SrL and SrR) were analyzed in interventricular septum (IVS) and left ventricular free wall (LVFW). Rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) were treated with LPS. The activation of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1) was confirmed by Q‐PCR and western blot assays. Thickening of pericardium and fibrosis in pericardium and subepicardial myocardium were showed in the model group. Diastolic dysfunction in the CP group was indicated by decreased E′ lat and E′ lat /E′ sep , increased E/E′ lat , decreased E FW of SrC and SrL, increased A IVS and decreased E/A of SrC, SrL and SrR. Systolic dysfunction was indicated by decreased SC FW and SL FW in CP rats. The levels of TGF‐β1, p‐Smad2/3, α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA), and collagen‐I/III (COL‐I/III) were increased in the CP group. The increased TGF‐β1 that induced by LPS activated and phosphorylated Smad2/3 resulting in the secretion of α‐SMA and COL‐I/III. This model is of vital importance in studying the pathogenesis of CP.