Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 30, 2026

Studying Left Ventricular Reverse Remodeling by Aortic Debanding in Rodents
Published on: July 14, 2021
Sildenafil treatment attenuates ventricular remodeling in an experimental model of aortic regurgitation
Kristian Eskesen1, Niels Thue Olsen1, Veronica L Dimaano2
1Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Division of Cardiology, Baltimore, MD USA ; Department of Cardiology, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Niels Andersensvej 65, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark.
Background:
Currently there is no reliable medical treatment for aortic regurgitation (AR).
Methods:
Thirty-nine Sprague-Dawley rats underwent creation of AR or sham operation. Treated rats were assigned to early or late institution of sildenafil therapy (100 mg/kg/day) for a total of 10 weeks. Treatment-effects were measured by serial echocardiography, invasive hemodynamic measurements, and tissue analysis.
Results:
Rats assigned to early treatment developed less remodeling than untreated rats. Thus, left ventricular (LV) dilation was blunted by sildenafil with end-systolic diameter being significantly smaller (6.6 ± 0.4 vs. 7.7 ± 0.4 mm, respectively, p < 0.05). Also, LV wall thickness was significantly decreased in treated rats compared to controls (2.23 ± 0.08 vs. 2.16 ± 0.05 mm, p < 0.01). Fractional shortening was improved by treatment (p < 0.05). Myocardial fibrosis was borderline decreased by treatment (p = 0.09). Akt was increased in treated compared to controls (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Sildenafil slightly inhibits LV remodeling and improves fractional shortening in rats with AR when treatment is initiated early.
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