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Cardiovascular effects of hyperhomocysteinemia in conscious unrestrained rats
Richard H Kennedy1, Russell B Melchert, Jacob Joseph
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA. rkennedy@lumc.edu
Insights
Hyperhomocysteinemia (Hhe) did not significantly alter blood pressure or heart rate in rats. These findings suggest Hhe-induced cardiac issues are not due to elevated blood pressure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Hyperhomocysteinemia (Hhe) is linked to cardiovascular disease.
- The direct impact of Hhe on cardiovascular function requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of Hhe on cardiovascular parameters in conscious, unrestrained rats.
- To determine if Hhe influences blood pressure and heart rate.
Main Methods:
- Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a homocystine-supplemented diet for six months.
- Continuous 24-hour monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate, and pulse pressure via biotelemetry.
Main Results:
- No significant changes in heart rate, diastolic blood pressure, or systolic blood pressure were observed.
- A transient, statistically significant increase in pulse pressure occurred at four months, returning to baseline by six months.
Conclusions:
- Hyperhomocysteinemia alone does not significantly affect blood pressure in this model.
- Previously observed Hhe-induced cardiac remodeling and diastolic dysfunction are likely independent of pressure overload.
Background:
Experiments were designed to determine whether hyperhomocysteinemia (Hhe) affects cardiovascular function when monitored in conscious unrestrained animals.
Methods:
Adult, male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a homocystine-supplemented diet for 6 months. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate, and pulse pressure were monitored continuously, 24 h a day, using biotelemetry techniques.
Results:
The resulting intermediate level of Hhe was not associated with significant changes in heart rate, diastolic BP, systolic BP, or the circadian variation in heart rate. In spite of the lack of significant changes in systolic and diastolic BP, there was a slight but statistically significant increase in pulse pressure after 4 months of treatment that returned toward control levels after 6 months.
Conclusions:
Current results indicate that Hhe alone does not have significant effects on BP. Furthermore, they suggest that the previously reported Hhe-induced adverse cardiac remodeling and diastolic dysfunction in this animal model are not the result of pressure overload.
