Assessment of animal models for investigating the cardiovascular adaptations to obesity

Several animal models of obesity have been reviewed with respect to the cardiovascular adaptations to this disorder. While some cardiovascular data are available for each model reviewed, the spontaneously obese rat has been most extensively characterized. Biochemical adaptations of the myocardium to experimental obesity have been reported, but this area has not been investigated extensively. The combined effects of obesity and hypertension upon the heart have been observed recently in the aortic-coarcted, obese rat, which may serve in the future as a useful model for investigating the basis of heart failure that occurs when these disorders are observed concurrently in the clinical setting.