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Resveratrol prevents the development of pathological cardiac hypertrophy and contractile dysfunction in the SHR
Sijo J Thandapilly1, Peter Wojciechowski, John Behbahani
1Heart Failure Research Laboratory, Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine, Department of Physiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Insights
Resveratrol prevents cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction in hypertensive rats by reducing oxidative stress, offering potential for essential hypertension treatment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cardiac hypertrophy, an enlargement of the heart due to stress like hypertension, can lead to pathological cardiac dysfunction and heart failure.
- Current treatments for hypertension and heart failure lack specificity and can cause side effects.
- There is a need for novel, safe, and effective therapeutic strategies for cardiac conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of resveratrol on cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).
- To determine if resveratrol can mitigate cardiac structural and functional abnormalities associated with hypertension.
- To assess the impact of resveratrol on oxidative stress in the cardiac tissue of SHRs.
Main Methods:
- Ten-week-old male SHRs and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were administered resveratrol (2.5 mg/kg/day) for 10 weeks.
- Systolic blood pressure, cardiac structure, and cardiac function were monitored throughout the treatment period.
- Oxidative stress markers in cardiac tissue were measured after 10 weeks of resveratrol administration.
Main Results:
- Resveratrol treatment significantly inhibited the development of concentric hypertrophy and both systolic and diastolic dysfunction in SHRs.
- These cardioprotective effects were observed without a significant reduction in blood pressure.
- Resveratrol administration led to a significant decrease in oxidative stress levels within the cardiac tissue of SHRs.
Conclusions:
- Resveratrol demonstrates significant cardioprotective benefits by preventing cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction in SHRs.
- The reduction of oxidative stress in cardiac tissue appears to be a key mechanism mediating resveratrol's beneficial effects.
- Resveratrol holds potential as a therapeutic agent for preventing cardiac impairment in individuals with essential hypertension.
Background:
Cardiac hypertrophy is a compensatory enlargement of the heart in response to stress such as hypertension. It is beneficial in reducing stress placed on the heart. However, when the stress is of a chronic nature, it becomes pathological and leads to cardiac dysfunction and heart failure. Current treatments for hypertension and heart failure have proven beneficial but are not highly specific and associated with side effects. Accordingly, there is an important need for alternative strategies to provide safe and effective treatment.
Methods:
Ten-week-old male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were treated with resveratrol (2.5 mg/kg/day) for a period of 10 weeks. Systolic blood pressure, and cardiac structure and function were measured in all groups at different time points of resveratrol treatment. Oxidative stress was also determined in all groups after 10 weeks of resveratrol treatment.
Results:
SHRs were characterized with high blood pressure and concentric hypertrophy from 15 weeks of age. Cardiac functional abnormalities were also evident in SHR from 15 weeks onwards. Resveratrol treatment significantly prevented the development of concentric hypertrophy, and systolic and diastolic dysfunction in SHR without lowering blood pressure. Resveratrol also significantly reduced the oxidative stress levels of cardiac tissue in SHR.
Conclusions:
Resveratrol treatment was beneficial in preventing the development of concentric hypertrophy and cardiac dysfunction in SHR. The cardioprotective effect of resveratrol in SHR may be partially mediated by a reduction in oxidative stress. Thus, resveratrol may have potential in preventing cardiac impairment in patients with essential hypertension.
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