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Growth hormone prolongs survival in experimental postinfarction heart failure
Antonio Cittadini1, Jörgen Isgaard, Maria Gaia Monti
1Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Sciences, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Insights
Growth hormone (GH) significantly improved survival rates in rats with experimental heart failure (HF). This was linked to reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and improved left ventricular relaxation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Experimental Medicine
Background:
- Growth hormone (GH) has shown benefits in experimental heart failure (HF) models.
- The impact of GH on HF progression and survival remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of growth hormone (GH) on survival in a rat model of postinfarction heart failure (HF).
Main Methods:
- 119 rats with myocardial infarction received either GH or placebo for 28 days.
- Survival, cardiac function, apoptosis, collagen, and capillary density were assessed over 13 months.
Main Results:
- GH treatment increased survival rates from 48% to 68% (p=0.0377).
- GH improved left ventricular relaxation, reduced collagen volume fraction, and increased capillary density.
- GH significantly reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis at one and 13 months.
Conclusions:
- Growth hormone (GH) prolonged survival in rats with postinfarction heart failure (HF).
- GH attenuated cardiomyocyte apoptosis and interstitial remodeling, enhancing left ventricular relaxation.
Objectives:
We evaluated the effects of growth hormone (GH) on survival in experimental heart failure (HF).
Background:
Growth hormone has been beneficial in various models of experimental HF. Whether GH also affects HF progression and survival is not known.
Methods:
A total of 119 rats with moderate myocardial infarction were randomized to receive either GH (3.5 mg/kg every other day) or placebo for 28 days. Treatment was initiated one month after coronary ligation; the follow-up lasted 13 months. In the surviving animals, Doppler echocardiography and closed-chest Millar left ventricular (LV) catheterization were performed. Apoptosis, collagen volume fraction, and capillary density in the LV zone remote from infarction were measured. The early effects of GH on apoptosis were also assessed in a subgroup of eight infarcted rats, treated as specified earlier and euthanized at one month.
Results:
Survival rate was 68% in GH-treated rats and 48% in the placebo group (p = 0.0377). Growth hormone had no effect on myocardial architecture, systolic function, and sarcoplasmatic reticulum calcium ATPase-2 messenger ribonucleic acid. Growth hormone improved LV relaxation; this was associated with a 50% reduction in collagen volume fraction and a 27% increase in capillary density. Growth hormone reduced the apoptotic index by 50% at one month and by 33% at 13 months.
Conclusions:
Growth hormone prolonged survival of rats with postinfarction HF. This effect was associated with marked attenuation of cardiomyocyte apoptosis and pathologic interstitial remodeling in the surviving myocardium and enhanced LV relaxation.
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