In vivo left ventricular function and collagen expression in aldosterone/salt-induced hypertension

J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 1998 Dec;32(6):927-34. doi: 10.1097/00005344-199812000-00009.

Abstract

Cardiac fibrosis is linked to aldosterone-induced hypertension, but the effects on in vivo left ventricular (LV) function are not established. We studied the relations between in vivo LV function and aldosterone/salt cardiac fibrosis. Adult guinea pigs (GPs) were treated for 3 months with an aldosterone infusion and high-salt diet. This treatment induced arterial hypertension (+35%) and moderate LV hypertrophy (LVH; +60%) without right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy. Echo-Doppler LV assessment demonstrated unaltered cardiac output, stroke volume, or LV relaxation. Type I collagen messenger RNA (mRNA) was significantly increased in both ventricles (LV, +48%; RV, +77%) and accompanied by a significant increase in total collagen deposition (LV, from 0.52% in controls to 4.4% in treated GPs; RV, from 0.82 to 5.5% in treated GPs). Plasma norepinephrine levels increased 2.6-fold (p < 0.01) and correlated with the increase in collagen deposition in both ventricles. Collagen content was not correlated with hypertension or LVH. We conclude that aldosterone administration induces cardiac collagen accumulation and a sympathetic stimulation, which might preserve systolic and diastolic function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aldosterone
  • Animals
  • Collagen / biosynthesis*
  • Collagen / metabolism
  • Electrolytes / metabolism
  • Fibrosis / etiology
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Hormones / blood
  • Hypertension / chemically induced
  • Hypertension / complications
  • Hypertension / metabolism
  • Hypertension / physiopathology*
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular
  • Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular
  • Male
  • Myocardium / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Salts
  • Ventricular Function, Left*

Substances

  • Electrolytes
  • Hormones
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Salts
  • Aldosterone
  • Collagen