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Depression in cardiac contractile force induced by cholesterol
K R Shah1, F Kolar, R E Beamish
1Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, St Boniface General Hospital Research Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Cardioscience
|December 1, 1990
Summary
Cholesterol rapidly alters isolated rat heart function, decreasing contractile force and coronary flow. These cardiac effects occur independently of atherosclerotic lesions in hypercholesterolemia.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Hypercholesterolemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
- The direct effects of cholesterol on cardiac function are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the direct impact of cholesterol on isolated rat heart function.
- To determine if cholesterol affects cardiac mechanics independently of atherosclerotic changes.
Main Methods:
- Isolated perfused rat heart model.
- Constant perfusion pressure and constant coronary flow protocols.
- Measurement of contractile force, resting tension, and coronary flow.
Main Results:
- Cholesterol, in combination with albumin, significantly reduced contractile force and increased resting tension.
- Albumin alone did not produce these cardiac effects.
- Cholesterol's negative impact on cardiac function was dose- and time-dependent.
- Effects were observed even when coronary flow was maintained constant.
Conclusions:
- Cholesterol can directly impair cardiac contractility and relaxation.
- These findings suggest cholesterol's detrimental effects on heart function may occur independent of atherosclerosis.
- This highlights a potential direct mechanism contributing to cardiac dysfunction in hypercholesterolemic states.