Chronic arteriovenous shunt: evaluation of a model for heart failure in rat

A model for high output heart failure (HCO) was developed in male, Sprague-Dawley rats using an abdominal aortocaval shunt equal to 50% of total cardiac output (CO) with 2 mo of postsurgical recovery. The model was evaluated by analysis of hemodynamics, peripheral blood flows (BF) (radioactive microspheres), and plasma catecholamine levels as well as mass and fluid content of organs. In HCO, CO and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure were increased with significant left and right ventricular hypertrophy. Mean blood pressure (BP) was unchanged, but pulse BP was increased in HCO. BF to skeletal muscle, cutaneous, and some splanchnic regions was reduced to HCO, whereas BF to the cerebral, coronary, and renal beds was protected. Plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels were significantly elevated in HCO suggesting enhanced sympathetic as well as adrenal catecholamine release. Tissue analysis indicated altered circulatory status secondary to HCO in liver, kidney, spleen, and lung. The results indicate that this model will be a relevant tool for studies of the circulatory effects of heart failure.