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Short Session High Intensity Interval Training and Treadmill Assessment in Aged Mice

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Heart rate reduction and longevity in mice.

Sabine Gent¹, Petra Kleinbongard, Philip Dammann

¹Institute for Pathophysiology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, University School of Medicine, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122, Essen, Germany.

Basic Research in Cardiology

|January 16, 2015

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Pharmacological heart rate reduction in mice using ivabradine significantly increased median life span by 6.2%. This study explores the link between heart rate and longevity, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for extending life.

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Area of Science:

Cardiovascular Physiology
Gerontology
Pharmacology

Background:

Elevated heart rate is linked to increased mortality in cardiovascular disease patients.
A correlation exists between heart rate and life span across species, but causality in healthy individuals is unproven.
Pharmacological heart rate reduction benefits patients with cardiovascular disease.

Purpose of the Study:

To prospectively investigate the long-term effects of pharmacological heart rate reduction on longevity in a healthy animal model.
To test the hypothesis that a reduced heart rate, by decreasing cardiac cycles, may extend life span.

Main Methods:

C57BL6/J mice were administered ivabradine (50 mg/kg/day) or placebo in drinking water from 12 weeks of age until death.
Heart rate, body weight, and survival were monitored throughout the study.
Macroscopic examination of organs was performed post-mortem.

Main Results:

Ivabradine treatment resulted in a sustained 14% reduction in heart rate.
Median life span was significantly increased by 6.2% in the ivabradine group compared to placebo (p = 0.01).
No significant differences in body weight or macroscopic organ findings were observed between groups.

Conclusions:

Life-long pharmacological heart rate reduction using ivabradine significantly prolongs life span in mice.
While not directly proportional to the heart rate reduction, the observed increase in longevity supports a causal link.
These findings suggest that targeting heart rate could be a strategy for promoting longevity.