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Updated: Oct 9, 2026

Semi-Minimal Invasive Method to Induce Myocardial Infarction in Rats and the Assessment of Cardiac Function by an Isolated Working Heart System
Published on: June 11, 2020
Na(+)/H(+) exchange inhibition reduces hypertrophy and heart failure after myocardial infarction in rats
K Kusumoto1, J V Haist, M Karmazyn
1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5C1.
Insights
Sodium/hydrogen exchange inhibition (NHE-1) with cariporide reduced heart failure progression and hypertrophy in rats post-myocardial infarction. This NHE-1 inhibition preserved cardiac function and reduced left ventricular dilation, suggesting a key role in heart failure development.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
- Physiology
Background:
- Coronary artery ligation (CAL) in rats leads to cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.
- Sodium/hydrogen exchange (NHE-1) plays a role in cardiac cell function and survival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of NHE-1 inhibition on cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure following myocardial infarction in a rat model.
- To evaluate the therapeutic potential of the NHE-1 inhibitor cariporide in mitigating post-infarction cardiac dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Rats underwent coronary artery ligation (CAL) or sham surgery.
- Animals received either a control diet or a diet containing the NHE-1 inhibitor cariporide for 13-15 weeks.
- Hearts were analyzed based on infarct size (small ≤30% LV, large >30% LV) and assessed for functional parameters and hypertrophy.
Main Results:
- CAL significantly reduced left ventricular function (LV +dP/dt), an effect attenuated by cariporide.
- Cariporide significantly reduced the marked increase in LV end-diastolic pressure and LV dilation observed in rats with large infarcts.
- NHE-1 inhibition with cariporide reduced cardiac hypertrophy and preserved myocyte shortening, without affecting infarct size, blood pressure, or dobutamine response.
Conclusions:
- Sodium/hydrogen exchange (NHE-1) plays a critical role in the progression of heart failure after myocardial infarction.
- Inhibition of NHE-1 with cariporide demonstrates a protective effect against cardiac remodeling and dysfunction post-infarction in rats.
- Targeting NHE-1 may represent a viable therapeutic strategy for managing heart failure following myocardial infarction.
Abstract:
We investigated the effect of sodium/hydrogen exchange inhibition (NHE-1) on hypertrophy and heart failure after coronary artery ligation (CAL) in the rat. Animals were subjected to occlusion (or sham) of the left main coronary artery and immediately administered a control diet or one consisting of the NHE-1 inhibitor cariporide for 13-15 wk. Hearts were separated by small [=30% of left ventricle (LV)] and large (>30% of LV) infarcts. CAL depressed change in left ventricular increase in pressure over time (LV +dP/dt) in small and large infarct groups by 18.8% (P < 0.05) and 34% (P < 0.01), respectively, whereas comparative values for the cariporide groups were 8.7% (not significant) and 23.1% (P < 0.01), respectively. LV end-diastolic pressure was increased by 1,225% in the control large infarct group but was significantly reduced to 447% with cariporide. Cariporide also significantly reduced the degree of LV dilation in animals with large infarcts. Hypertrophy, defined by tissue weights and cell size, was reduced by cariporide, and shortening of surviving myocytes was preserved. Infarct sizes were unaffected by cariporide, and the drug had no influence on either blood pressure or the depressed inotropic response of infarcted hearts to dobutamine. These results suggest an important role for NHE-1 in the progression of heart failure after myocardial infarction.
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