Related Experiment Videos
Cardiac dysfunction in isolated perfused hearts from spontaneously diabetic BB rats
1Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
|April 1, 1990
Summary
Spontaneously diabetic rats showed impaired cardiac function and biochemistry, including reduced myosin ATPase activity and depressed heart contractility. These findings mirror changes seen in human diabetes mellitus.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Diabetology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Spontaneously diabetic BB rats closely model human insulin-dependent diabetes.
- Chronic hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia are key features of diabetes.
- Cardiac complications are a significant concern in diabetes mellitus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cardiac function and biochemistry in spontaneously diabetic BB rats.
- To compare cardiac performance between diabetic and nondiabetic BB rats.
- To understand the cardiac impact of chronic, severe diabetes in this model.
Main Methods:
- Isolated perfused working heart model was used to assess cardiac function.
- Biochemical analysis of cardiac tissue was performed.
- Comparison between BB diabetic rats and their nondiabetic littermates.
Main Results:
- Diabetic BB rats exhibited significantly lower calcium-stimulated myosin ATPase activity.
- Left ventricular developed pressure, cardiac contractility, and relaxation rates were depressed in diabetic rats.
- These functional deficits were observed 6 weeks after diabetes onset.
Conclusions:
- Chronically diabetic BB rats develop cardiac dysfunction.
- The observed cardiac changes are comparable to those in chemically induced diabetes and human diabetes mellitus.
- This model is valuable for studying diabetic cardiomyopathy.