Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026
07:26
Studying Left Ventricular Reverse Remodeling by Aortic Debanding in Rodents
Published on: July 14, 2021
Reverse remodeling and recovery from cachexia in rats with aldosteronism
Yaser Cheema1, Wenyuan Zhao, Tieqiang Zhao
1Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, USA.
Summary
Chronic aldosteronism causes cachexia and adverse heart/muscle remodeling in rats. However, these tissues show potential for recovery after hormone withdrawal, indicating resilience.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Endocrinology
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Congestive heart failure (CHF) with cachexia involves neurohormonal activation.
- Mechanical circulatory assistance suggests CHF recovery potential, but hormonal withdrawal effects are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate signaling pathways of chronic aldosteronism in heart and skeletal muscle.
- To assess the potential for tissue recovery after aldosterone withdrawal.
Main Methods:
- Aldosterone/salt treatment (ALDOST) in Sprague-Dawley rats for 4 weeks.
- Examination of organ, cellular/subcellular, and molecular changes.
- Assessment of recovery (Recov) after 4 weeks of hormone withdrawal.
Main Results:
- ALDOST induced weight loss, muscle atrophy, cardiomyocyte size heterogeneity, oxidative stress, and altered gene expression.
- These adverse effects showed reversal towards baseline after 4-week recovery.
- Increased mitochondrial Ca(2+) and permeability transition pore opening were observed.
Conclusions:
- Aldosteronism in rats leads to cachexia and adverse cardiac/skeletal muscle remodeling.
- Heart and skeletal muscle possess inherent recovery potential following complete hormone withdrawal.
