Hemodynamic and neurohumoral changes after abdominal aortic constriction in rats

Cardiac after-load, neurohumoral reaction and the secondary cardiac hypertrophy were studied in six groups of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with abdominal aortic constriction. We found that abdominal aortic constriction above the renal arteries decreased the heart rate and cardiac output, and increased the pulse pressure. These abnormalities would return to normal after constriction ended. Captopril, propranolol and prazosin could reduce the increase of pulse pressure but still had decreased in cardiac output of rats with abdominal constriction. Aortic constriction also increased the aortic impedance and cardiac load but decreased aortic compliance. These changes could also be lessened by captopril, propranolol and prazosin. We have confirmed that aortic constriction can induce secondary cardiac hypertrophy, but the pathogenesis might be due to multiple factors.