Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

A Rat Model of Pressure Overload Induced Moderate Remodeling and Systolic Dysfunction as Opposed to Overt Systolic Heart Failure
07:13

A Rat Model of Pressure Overload Induced Moderate Remodeling and Systolic Dysfunction as Opposed to Overt Systolic Heart Failure

Published on: April 30, 2020

Targeting sigma-1 receptor with fluvoxamine ameliorates pressure-overload-induced hypertrophy and dysfunctions

Md Shenuarin Bhuiyan1, Hideaki Tagashira, Norifumi Shioda

  • 1Tohoku University, Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aramaki-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan.

Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets
|August 21, 2010
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Fluvoxamine protects against pressure overload-induced heart damage in ovariectomized rats by upregulating sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R) expression and activating Akt-eNOS signaling, improving cardiac function.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Ovariectomy (OVX) in rats leads to pressure overload (PO)-induced myocardial hypertrophy and cardiac dysfunction.
  • Sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R) expression in the left ventricle (LV) decreases following PO-induced hypertrophy in OVX rats.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the cardioprotective effects of sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R) stimulation with fluvoxamine.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms underlying Sig-1R-mediated cardioprotection in a rat model of cardiac hypertrophy.

Main Methods:

  • Wistar rats underwent OVX and abdominal aortic banding to induce cardiac pressure overload.
  • Rats were treated with fluvoxamine (a Sig-1R agonist) or vehicle for 4 weeks post-banding.
  • Cardiac function, myocardial hypertrophy, and protein expression (Sig-1R, Akt, eNOS) were assessed.

Main Results:

  • Fluvoxamine treatment significantly attenuated PO-induced myocardial hypertrophy and improved LV function in OVX rats.
  • Fluvoxamine administration increased Sig-1R expression in the LV and restored Akt and eNOS activity.
  • The cardioprotective effects of fluvoxamine were reversed by the Sig-1R antagonist NE-100.

Conclusions:

  • Sig-1R expression plays a crucial role in attenuating pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy in ovariectomized rats.
  • Fluvoxamine demonstrates cardioprotective potential by upregulating Sig-1R and activating the Akt-eNOS pathway, mitigating cardiac injury.

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