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Reactivation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha is associated with contractile dysfunction in hypertrophied rat heart.

In pressure overload-induced hypertrophy, the heart increases its reliance on glucose as a fuel while decreasing fatty acid oxidation. A key regulator of this substrate switching in the hypertrophied heart is peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha). We tested the hypothesis that down-regulation of PPARalpha is an essential component of cardiac hypertrophy at the levels of increased mass, gene expression, and metabolism by pharmacologically reactivating PPARalpha. Pressure overload (induced by constriction of the ascending aorta for 7 days in rats) resulted in cardiac hypertrophy, increased expression of fetal genes (atrial natriuretic factor and skeletal alpha-actin), decreased expression of PPARalpha and PPARalpha-regulated genes (medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4), and caused substrate switching (measured ex vivo in the isolated working heart preparation). Treatment of rats with the specific PPARalpha agonist WY-14,643 (8 days) did not affect the trophic response or atrial natriuretic factor induction to pressure overload. However, PPARalpha activation blocked skeletal alpha-actin induction, reversed the down-regulation of measured PPARalpha-regulated genes in the hypertrophied heart, and prevented substrate switching. This PPARalpha reactivation concomitantly resulted in severe depression of cardiac power and efficiency in the hypertrophied heart (measured ex vivo). Thus, PPARalpha down-regulation is essential for the maintenance of contractile function of the hypertrophied heart.

Actins↗

A novel pleiotropic effect of statins: prevention of cardiac hypertrophy by cholesterol-independent mechanisms.

Cardiac hypertrophy is an initial physiological adaptive response by the heart to pressure overload. However, if pressure overload persists, frequently, the heart decompensates and develops 'pathophysiological' hypertrophy. This leads to increased mortality and morbidity and is an independent risk factor for heart failure. Because cardiac myocytes convert this pressure overload into intracellular biochemical signals, blocking this critical signaling pathway may be an important therapeutic target to prevent cardiac hypertrophy. Small GTP-binding proteins, in particular Rac1, have been suggested to play a key role in the development of cardiac hypertrophy. Recently, 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, also called statins, have been shown to inhibit cardiac hypertrophy independent of their cholesterol lowering property. Statins block the isoprenylation and activation of members of the Rho family, such as RhoA and Rac1. Rac1 also regulates NADPH oxidase, which is a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cardiovascular cells. Growing evidence suggests that ROS may be involved in the process of cardiac hypertrophy and recent research has shown that statins attenuate oxidative stress through inhibition of Rac1. Overall, these pleiotropic effects of statins will give new insights into the process of cardiac hypertrophy.

Antioxidants↗

Spinal root and plexus hypertrophy in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.

MRI was performed on the spinal roots, brachial and lumbar plexuses of 14 patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). Hypertrophy of cervical roots and brachial plexus was demonstrated in eight cases, six of whom also had hypertrophy of the lumbar plexus. Of 11 patients who received gadolinium, five of six cases with hypertrophy and one of five without hypertrophy demonstrated enhancement. All patients with hypertrophy had a relapsing-remitting course and a significantly longer disease duration. Gross onion-bulb formations were seen in a biopsy of nerve from the brachial plexus in one case with clinically evident nodular hypertrophy. We conclude that spinal root and plexus hypertrophy may be seen on MRI, particularly in cases of CIDP of long duration, and gadolinium enhancement may be present in active disease.

Adult↗

The absence of effect of chemical sympathectomy on ventricular hypertrophy induced by hypoxia in young rabbits.

Young rabbits, eight at a time, were exposed to 203 and 208 h (groups I and II) and 283 and 298 h (groups III and IV) of hypoxia (O2 at 70 to 80 mmHg), at atmospheric pressure. The animals were injected ip with 25 mg X kg-1 on the first day, and with 50 mg X kg-1 on the second day and every 48 h thereafter of guanethidine (G) or 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) (O), or an equivalent volume of saline (H = hypoxic controls, or N = normoxic controls). This regime of treatment abolished, in normoxic and hypoxic animals alike, the effect of sympathetic nerve stimulation on the pupil at voltages which produced maximum dilatation in control animals. Injection of atenolol reduced heart rate by 32% in control animals, but had no effect in the guanethidine treated animals, and a very small effect in the 6-OHDA treated group. The animals in each group were litter mates of those in the other groups. In the first series the dry weight of the hypoxic right ventricles increased, relative to the normoxic controls, by 38.8% (H), 40.5% (G) and 40.9% (O). There was no left ventricular hypertrophy in the hypoxic animals, but there was a small, but not statistically significant, rise in the haematocrit (Hct). In the second series the right ventricular hypertrophy was greater (+98% (H), +89% (G) and +102% (O]. There was also a significant left ventricular hypertrophy (+38% (H), +40.3% (G) and +41% (O] and a highly significant increase in haematocrit in all the hypoxic groups. The right atria were only slightly hypertrophied in the first series, but greatly hypertrophied in the second series (+103%, H), an effect attenuated by the treatment (+34%, G, and +39%, O). When each treated hypoxic animal was compared with its untreated hypoxic littermate (n = 12), the mean treated/untreated ratio for the right ventricular dry weight was 0.991 +/- 0.022 for the guanethidine group (n = 11) and 1.023 +/- 0.043 for the 6-hydroxydopamine (n = 11). Such identity of the extent of the hypertrophy in all the hypoxic groups, irrespective of the duration of hypoxia, implies that the hypertrophy was not conditional upon sympathetic activity.

Animals↗

Cardiac contractile proteins in hypertrophied and failing guinea pig heart.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to study changes in contractile proteins which accompany marked hypertrophy and heart failure in mammalian hearts initially containing predominantly V3 isomyosin. METHODS: Left ventricular myosin and myofibrillar ATPase activity and right ventricular actomyosin ATPase activity were measured in normal guinea pig hearts, in hearts which were hypertrophied as a result of progressive left ventricular systolic overload following ascending aortic banding, and in hypertrophied hearts from animals which showed signs of overt congestive heart failure. Male guinea pigs weighing 225-275 g at the time of aortic banding were used for the studies. RESULTS: Left ventricular myosin and myofibrillar ATPase activity and right ventricular actomyosin ATPase activity were correlated with body weight, left and right ventricular weight, and left ventricular peak systolic pressure during aortic occlusion. Left ventricular myosin ATPase activity and right ventricular actomyosin ATPase activity were markedly depressed in hypertrophied ventricles compared to control ventricles. Cardiac myofibrillar ATPase activity was lower in hypertrophied failing hearts than in control hearts over a wide range of calcium concentrations. In control animals and in those without heart failure, there was a nearly identical inverse relationship between left ventricular mass up to 1600 mg and myosin ATPase activity. Hypertrophied failing hearts were larger but showed little further reduction in cardiac myosin ATPase activity. Representative gel scans of non-dissociating pyrophosphate gels of left ventricular myosin from an 8 d postoperative aortic constricted animal and from its age and weight matched control showed predominantly V3 isomyosin with small amounts of V1 isoenzyme. However, preparations taken from guinea pigs 16 d after aortic constriction showed only the V3 isoform, whereas the V1 isoform was still apparent in control. Hypertrophied failing left ventricles developed less pressure per unit mass during brief aortic occlusion than non-failing left ventricles with comparable myosin ATPase activities. CONCLUSIONS: These observations raise important questions as to the distribution of myosin isoforms in the normal adult guinea pig, and the possibility that myosin ATPase activity might be altered by post-translational modification. Although cardiac myosin ATPase activity correlates with left ventricular performance, it cannot fully explain the depressed performance of failing hearts in this model. Additional immunological studies of cardiac contractile proteins are required as well as studies designed to explore the implications of altered myosin ATPase activity for both contractile function and overall cellular homeostasis.

Animals↗

Spontaneous arrhythmias in various models of cardiac hypertrophy and senescence of rats. A Holter monitoring study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to define experimental models of spontaneous arrhythmias in various models of cardiac hypertrophy in rats. METHODS: Cardiac hypertrophy was induced by several methods and 24 h Holter monitoring was recorded in conscious rats to quantify spontaneous arrhythmias in hypertrophied hearts. Male Wistar rats were studied. A group of young controls 1-2 months old (n = 16) was compared to four groups of animals with cardiac hypertrophy: (1) thyrotoxic rats which received a daily intraperitoneal injection of L-thyroxine for 7 d (n = 6); (2) rats subjected to abdominal suprarenal aortic stenosis (n = 11); (3) senescent rats 22-24 month old (n = 6); and (4) S-DOCA-salt (senescent animals rendered hypertensive by uninephrectomy and DOCA-salt treatment, n = 8). RESULTS: (1) Thyroxine resulted in 20% cardiac hypertrophy, with normal arterial tension, sinus tachycardia, a shorter P wave length and PR interval, and frequent (5/6) atrioventricular block. No premature beats were seen. (2) In aortic stenosis, atria and left ventricle were hypertrophied by 53% and systolic carotid pressure increased by 63%. The incidence of supraventricular premature beats was increased [frequency = 0.70 (SEM 0.3) per 24 h in control v 99(61) in aortic stenosis, p < 0.05]. Ventricular premature beats remained as rare as in control. (3) In senescent and S-DOCA-salt rats all types of spontaneous arrhythmias, but specially supraventricular arrhythmias and atrioventricular block, were frequent. Cardiac hypertrophy produced by DOCA-salt treatment in senescent rats had no effect on the incidence and nature of arrhythmias, but resulted in an increased QTc interval. CONCLUSIONS: Senescent rats and rats with aortic stenosis represent valid models of spontaneous arrhythmias occurring in the absence of ischaemia or toxic insult. Spontaneous arrhythmias in rats are mainly of supraventricular origin. Hyperthyroidism in rats is a model of atrioventricular block probably related to tachycardia. Holter monitoring in rats may have several potential pathophysiological and pharmacological applications.

Aging↗

Diuretic effects on cardiac hypertrophy in the stroke prone spontaneously hypertensive rat.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to compare the effects of two diuretics, indapamide and hydrochlorothiazide, on cardiac hypertrophy in stroke prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP). METHODS: Six week old SHR-SP, on a 1% sodium chloride water intake, were treated with oral indapamide (3 mg.kg-1 x d-1) or hydrochlorothiazide (20 mg.kg-1 x d-1) over a 44 d period. The hypertrophic process was evaluated by classical indices and by the morphological analysis of myocyte cross sectional area, coronary artery thickness, and immunohistochemical analysis of interstitial fibrosis. RESULTS: In the untreated SHR-SP on 1% sodium chloride, all animals developed severe hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy when compared to normotensive salt loaded WKY by 13 weeks of age. In salt loaded SHR-SP treated with indapamide or hydrochlorothiazide, systolic blood pressure was moderately decreased by the end of the treatment when compared with untreated SHR-SP, at 259(7) and 245(7) mm Hg respectively, v 300(11) mm Hg, p < or = 0.05. Myocyte enlargement appears to be the main feature involved in the development of cardiac hypertrophy in the SHR-SP. By the end of treatment both indapamide and hydrochlorothiazide prevented the development of cardiac hypertrophy evaluated by heart weight to body weight ratio [4.69(0.07) and 4.61(0.08) respectively, v 5.39(0.13), p < or = 0.001] and myocyte hypertrophy (-33% and -21% of the SHR-SP values, p < or = 0.001). Myocardial interstitial fibrosis and perivascular fibrosis were practically absent in the two treated groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results allow the characterisation of SHR-SP cardiac hypertrophy and indicate that the two types of chronic diuretic treatment prevent SHR-SP cardiac hypertrophy with a drug specific efficiency.

Animals↗

Transforming growth factor beta 1 and extracellular matrix gene expression in isoprenaline induced cardiac hypertrophy: effects of inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate changes in cardiac transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), fibronectin, and collagen types I and III mRNA levels in isoprenaline induced cardiac hypertrophy, and the effects of delapril, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, and TCV-116, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist, on this hypertrophy. METHODS: Rats were continuously infused with saline and low or high dose of isoprenaline (0.5 or 3 mg.kg-1.d-1) by an osmotic minipump for 24 h, 48 h or 7 d. Treatment with delapril (100 mg.kg-1.d-1) or TCV-116 (10 mg.kg-1.d-1) was started from 1 d before the implantation of minipump to the end of experiments. After the experimental periods, left ventricular weight was measured and the mRNA was extracted and measured by northern blot hybridisation. RESULTS: Both low and high doses of isoprenaline infusion resulted in increased left ventricular weight. With low dose infusion, cardiac TGF-beta 1 mRNA was not stimulated throughout the infusion, while fibronectin mRNA and collagen types I and III mRNAs began to increase at 24 h and 48 h, respectively, after the infusion. In high dose isoprenaline infusion, not only was extracellular matrix mRNA but also TGF-beta 1 mRNA in the ventricle significantly increased. TCV-116 prevented isoprenaline induced left ventricular hypertrophy as much as delapril. However, with delapril or TCV-116, the time course of TGF-beta 1 and ECM mRNA expression was almost similar to isoprenaline infusion only. CONCLUSIONS: The extracellular matrix mRNA expressions are enhanced in myocardial hypertrophy by a low dose of isoprenaline, which is probably not mediated by TGF-beta 1. The preventive effects of TCV-116 on this hypertrophy indicate that the inhibitory effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor on cardiac hypertrophy are due to the inhibition of angiotensin II and that angiotensin II type I receptor plays an important role in isoprenaline induced left ventricular hypertrophy. However, the renin-angiotensin system may play a minor role in isoprenaline induced cardiac fibrosis.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Ischaemic preconditioning protects hypertrophied myocardium.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical and experimental evidence suggests that hypertrophied myocardium is more susceptible to injury from ischaemia than normal myocardium. This study was designed to investigate whether preconditioning confers protection on hearts with moderate hypertrophy. METHODS: Cardiac hypertrophy induced by hypertension was produced in rats by giving saline drinking fluid and subcutaneous deoxycorticosterone acetate for four weeks. After thoracotomy, localisation of the left main coronary artery and stabilisation, groups of hypertensive animals with cardiac hypertrophy (HT) and their age matched normotensive controls (NT) underwent a preconditioning protocol consisting of 5 min occlusion of the left main coronary artery followed by 10 min reperfusion. This was followed by 45 min ischaemia and at least 2.5 h reperfusion. Control animals in the hypertrophied and normotensive groups were treated identically but were not subjected to the preconditioning protocol. Thus there were four experimental groups: HT preconditioned (n = 8), HT control (n = 7), NT preconditioned (n = 7), and NT control (n = 7). Infarct size was measured using triphenyl tetrazolium chloride and was expressed as a percentage of the volume at risk, measured with fluorescent particles. RESULTS: Heart weight was greater (p < 0.01) in the HT groups than in the NT groups [HT preconditioned 1.7(SEM 0.06) g, HT control 1.71(0.02) g, NT preconditioned 1.3(0.04) g, NT control 1.31(0.03) g]. Infarct to risk volume ratio (I/R) was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the preconditioned groups as compared with controls [HT preconditioned 19.1(1.5)% v HT control 67.1(5.6)%, and NT preconditioned 33.4(5.5)% v NT control 77.1(3.8)%]. There was no significant difference in the volume at risk of infarction between the four groups. CONCLUSIONS: Ischaemic preconditioning can induce myocardial protection in hypertrophied myocardium; this is the first study to demonstrate preconditioning in hypertrophy.

Animals↗

Physiologic or pathologic hypertrophy.

Physiologic hypertrophy occurs as the result of exercise conditioning and is characterized by normal or supranormal left ventricular (LV) contractile function and reversibility of structural alterations. Whether hypertrophy produced by chronic abnormal loading can be termed 'physiologic' is a matter of debate because in experimental pressure overload hypertrophy normal in vivo ventricular function may be associated with abnormal in vitro function of the papillary muscles. In patients with moderate LV hypertrophy from aortic valve disease (angiographic mass less than 180 g/m2) ejection fraction (EF) is preserved, but at similar levels of afterload, when mass exceeds 180 g/m2, EF is depressed. Comparison of LV function with myocardial structure (endomyocardial biopsies) has shown that in patients with compensated LV function and those with left heart failure (EF less than 57%, LVEDP greater than 20 mm Hg and/or cardiac index less than 2.5 l/min/m2) interstitial fibrosis (IF) was increased to a similar extent (16 and 18%; normal less than 5%), whereas muscle fiber diameter (MFD; normal less than or equal to 20 mu) was larger (P less than 0.05) in the patients with failure (30 mu) than in those with preserved function (27 mu). Moreover patients with depressed postoperative function had a larger (P less than 0.01) preoperative MFD (35 mu) than those with normal postoperative function (30 mu). Seventeen months after successful aortic valve replacement IF increased (P less than 0.02) and MFD decreased (P less than 0.001) but did not become normal regardless whether postoperative function was normal or depressed. Thus in secondary hypertrophy myocardial structure is pathologic even in the presence of normal LV function and depressed function appears likely to be related to excessive fiber hypertrophy rather than to IF. Massive fiber hypertrophy heralds an unfavorable postoperative LV function and fibrosis is irreversible after surgical correction of the abnormal load.

Animals↗

Prevalence and significance of asymmetric septal hypertrophy in hypertension: an echocardiographic and clinical study.

To assess the prevalence of asymmetric septal hypertrophy (ASH) in hypertensive patients, 613 echocardiographic examinations performed over a period of one year were reviewed. Asymmetric septal hypertrophy (defined by an echocardiographic interventricular septum to left ventricular free wall thickness ratio of greater than or equal to 1.3 and by the presence of suggestive two-dimensional echocardiographic abnormalities) was found in 28 patients (5%). Clinical characteristics of asymmetric septal hypertrophy were assessed in 101 patients who underwent a complete evaluation. Patients with asymmetric septal hypertrophy (n = 9) were compared with patients with echocardiographic symmetrical left ventricle hypertrophy (n = 38) and without left ventricular hypertrophy (n = 54). Our results indicate that neither the severity of hypertension, nor the renin-angiotensin system nor sympathetic nerve activity appear to be the primary determinants in the development of asymmetric septal hypertrophy.

Adult↗

Sarcoplasmic reticular Ca2+-pump adaptation in cardiac hypertrophy due to pressure overload in pigs.

Ca2+-transport activities of the sarcoplasmic reticulum isolated from the non-failing hypertrophied left ventricle due to supravalvular banding of aorta for 4 and 8 weeks in pigs were compared with those from the sham operated controls. The rate of Ca2+-uptake, but not the capacity, in 4 weeks hypertrophied heart preparations was increased. On the other hand, both the rate and capacity of sarcoplasmic reticulum to accumulate Ca2+ were decreased at 8 weeks of heart hypertrophy. The Ca2+-binding and Ca2+-stimulated Mg2+ dependent ATPase activities of the reticular fractions from 4 and 8 weeks hypertrophied hearts were not significantly different from the control values. No changes in the sarcoplasmic reticular phospholipid contents were evident except that sphingomyelin was significantly decreased in 4 weeks and diphosphatidylglycerol was increased in both 4 and 8 weeks hypertrophied preparations. These results suggest that adaptation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum function in physiologic and pathologic hypertrophied hearts may occur by changing the efficiency of Ca2+-pump system during the development of cardiac hypertrophy.

Animals↗

Protective effects of cardioplegia on diastolic function of hypertrophied rat hearts after hypothermic ischaemic arrest.

This study was undertaken to assess the effects of hypothermia and chemical cardioplegia on the functional recovery of hypertrophied non-failing rat hearts subjected to an extended period of global ischaemia. Left ventricular hypertrophy was produced by constriction of the abdominal aorta. Hearts were studied an average of 8 weeks following this procedure. Sham-operated animals served as controls. Twenty-nine isolated isovolumic perfused rat heart preparations were then subjected to 2 h of ischaemic arrest at 15-18 degrees C followed by 45 min of normothermic reperfusion. In one series of hearts (8 sham, 8 hypertrophied), myocardial protection consisted of hypothermia alone. In another series (6 sham, 7 hypertrophied), repeated infusions of cardioplegic solution at 30-min intervals throughout arrest were added to hypothermia. Hypothermia alone resulted in a similar preservation of contractility as evidenced by the recovery of dp/dtmax/left ventricular (LV) systolic pressure after 45 min of reperfusion (91.6 +/- 5.9% of control values in sham vs 78.6 +/- 6.5% in hypertrophied hearts). Conversely, the recovery of compliance was much more impaired in hypertrophied hearts as indicated by a significantly higher percentage of increase in post-ischaemic LV diastolic pressure (DP) (at 45 min of reperfusion: 243.8 +/- 27.5% of control values vs 167.1 +/- 23.8% in sham, P less than 0.05). The addition of cardioplegia improved the preservation of contractility in both groups but its major effect was to normalize the recovery of compliance in hypertrophied hearts so that post-ischaemic LVDP values were no longer different from those recorded in normal hearts (at 45 min of reperfusion: 102.1 +/- 32.8% vs 98.5 +/- 14.2% of pre-ischaemic values respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Reversal of left ventricular hypertrophy and improvement of cardiac function in man by nifedipine.

The effects of long-term (mean 3.9 months) pharmacotherapy of hypertensive and normotensive hypertrophy (hypertensive heart disease, hypertrophic non-obstructive cardiomyopathy) as well as of advanced cardiac disease due to coronary artery disease and dilatative cardiomyopathy by large doses of nifedipine (mean 120 mg/day-1) were analyzed with regard to systolic blood pressure, to left ventricular function and to the hypertrophy degree of the ventricle. Nifedipine, in addition to conventional and maintained antihypertensive and cardiac therapy, lowers blood pressure in hypertensive patients, whereas hypotensive effects in the normotensive patients were absent. Nifedipine enhances left ventricular function in all patient groups significantly, i.e. in normotensive hypertrophic non-obstructive cardiomyopathy, in hypertensive heart disease and especially in heart disease due to coronary artery disease and dilatative cardiomyopathy. Significant regression of septal and of global hypertrophy was found in hypertrophic non-obstructive cardiomyopathy and in hypertensive heart disease. These results indicate, that long-term nifedipine treatment may be beneficial for left ventricular function in all patient groups and for hypertrophy regression in established left ventricular hypertrophy due to hypertrophic, non-obstructive cardiomyopathy and due to hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy. It is concluded that long-term nifedipine treatment improves left ventricular function and leads to regression of established ventricular wall hypertrophy in hypertrophic non-obstructive cardiomyopathy and in hypertensive heart disease.

Adult↗

Na,K-pump concentration in hypertrophied human hearts.

Several studies have associated myocardial dysfunction with reduced myocardial Na,K-pump concentration, but whether impaired Na,K-pump capacity is a pathogenetic factor or an epiphenomenon related to accompanying cardiac hypertrophy is not established. We measured Na,K-pump concentrations in 10 hypertrophied and 11 normal weighted hearts obtained at autopsy using [3H]ouabain as ligand. Specific [3H] ouabain binding site concentration (OBC) in the left ventricle (LV) averaged 449 +/- 40 (pmol.g-1 wet weight; mean +/- SEM) in hypertrophied and 598 +/- 36 in normal weighted ventricles (P = 0.02). A trend towards lower LV OBC (-19%; P = 0.25) was found in hypertrophied hearts from patients with congestive heart failure as compared with non-failing hypertrophied hearts. In multivariate analysis with 18 variables including age and heart failure, only LV weight correlated independently with LV OBC (r = -0.61; P = 0.003). When OBC was related to either dry weight or to protein content, a 25-35% reduction was consistently found in hypertrophied LV, whereas RV OBC was similar in both groups. In conclusion, myocardial Na,K-pump concentration and thus the capacity to maintain homeostasis is reduced in LV, but not in RV, of hypertrophied hearts. Whether the moderately reduced myocardial Na,K-pump concentration is a pathogenetic factor in LV dysfunction remains to be determined.

Aged↗

Depressed high-energy phosphate content in hypertrophied ventricles of animal and man: the biologic basis for increased sensitivity to ischemic injury.

It is frequently stated that hypertrophied ventricles tolerate ischemia less well than nonhypertrophied ventricles. The authors' earlier studies in a rat supravalvular aortic stenosis model and canine valvular aortic stenosis model, both with concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, disclosed accelerated rates of ischemic contracture and diminished basal myocardial high energy phosphate stores. These studies have been extended to ten patients with severe left ventricular hypertrophy caused by valvular aortic stenosis and normal coronary arteries. ATP (endocardial and epicardial) from transmural left ventricular biopsies taken at operation before aorta cross-clamping, and frozen immediately in liquid nitrogen, were compared with similar biopsies from patients with nonhypertrophied myocardium supplied by normal coronary arteries. The subendocardial high energy phosphate levels in the nonhypertrophied myocardium was greater than high energy phosphate levels in the subepicardium of nonhypertrophied ventricles (ATP-micromoles/gram-protein, epi = 36.8 +/- 3.3, endo = 37.7 +/- 3.3) (p = NS). However, in the hypertrophied myocardium the subendocardium consistently showed significantly depressed high-energy phosphate levels when compared with subepicardial levels (ATP-hypertrophied myocardium, epi = 31.5 +/- 1.6, endo = 25.9 +/- 1.7) (p less than 0.05). This uniform depression of ATP stores, greatest in the subendocardium, in left ventricular hypertrophy suggests a common biologic mechanism for the enhanced sensitivity to ischemia. Of importance for patients may be the prior observation in rats that repletion of ATP( stores before ischemia eliminates the accelerated rate to ischemic contracture. Diminished subendocardial ATP stores appear to be an intrinsic property of severely hypertrophied myocardium and probably contribute to its enhanced sensitivity to ischemia.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

Left ventricular hypertrophy and ventricular dysrhythmic risk in hypertensive patients: evaluation by programmed electrical stimulation.

Left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients is associated with an increased prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias. Twelve patients with left ventricular hypertrophy assessed by M-mode echocardiography and 12 without left ventricular hypertrophy underwent an electrophysiological study with programmed electrical stimulation. The patients with left ventricular hypertrophy had a prolonged infranodal conduction time which correlated closely with left ventricular mass (r = 0.71; P less than 0.001). Programmed electrical stimulation initiated more intraventricular re-entry and unsustained ventricular tachycardia in the group with left ventricular hypertrophy than in the control group, although sustained ventricular tachycardia was never induced. We conclude that ventricular vulnerability is increased in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy, especially in those who show electrocardiographic evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗

The paradoxical role of left ventricular hypertrophy in wall stress-related arrhythmia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the interrelationship between arrhythmias provoked by acute pressure changes, and the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy and electrolyte imbalances. DESIGN: An isolated working rat heart model was used in a prospective comparison of the effects of acute pressure changes in hypertensive and normotensive hearts during perfusion with perfusate containing differing electrolyte compositions. SETTING: An experimental laboratory study. STUDY MATERIALS: Forty-four rat hearts (20 hypertensive, 24 normotensive). INTERVENTIONS: Hearts were subjected to sudden pressure changes of varying sizes during perfusion with two different electrolyte solutions and the arrhythmias provoked were recorded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The size of the pressure change necessary to provoke arrhythmias, and the amount and severity of arrhythmias provoked by equivalent-sized pressure changes. RESULTS: During perfusion with normal electrolyte concentrations, no hypertrophied hearts developed arrhythmia compared with more than half of the normal hearts during equivalent-sized pressure changes, and a much larger pressure increase was necessary to produce any arrhythmia in the hypertrophied hearts. During perfusion with cation-depleted perfusate, arrhythmias significantly increased in both groups of hearts, but the pattern was reversed; more than half of the hypertrophied hearts compared with none of the normal hearts developed ventricular tachycardia during equivalent-sized pressure increases, whilst the minimum pressure change necessary to provoke arrhythmia became significantly smaller in the hypertrophied hearts compared with the normal hearts. CONCLUSIONS: Left ventricular hypertrophy plays a paradoxical role in the development of arrhythmias in this model. It appears to protect the heart from developing arrhythmias in response to sudden pressure changes when electrolyte concentrations are normal. However, it also seems to lead to a marked increase in the sensitivity of the myocardium to pressure changes during perfusion with low levels of potassium and magnesium. Under these conditions, potentially fatal arrhythmias can be readily provoked by relatively small pressure changes. These results may be of importance for the management of hypertension and may provide insight into some of the mechanisms underlying sudden death in hypertension. The findings may also be of relevance to other cardiac diseases associated with ventricular hypertrophy or abnormal wall stress.

Animals↗