Impact of SGLT2i on Cardiac Remodeling and the Soleus Muscle of Infarcted Rats

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Metabolic Diseases
• Muscle Physiology

Background:

• Heart failure (HF) is associated with skeletal muscle wasting and dysfunction.
• Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors demonstrate cardioprotective effects in HF.
• The impact of SGLT2 inhibitors on skeletal muscle in HF remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of empagliflozin (EMPA) on cardiac remodeling in rats with myocardial infarction (MI)-induced HF.
• To assess the impact of EMPA on the soleus skeletal muscle in the context of HF.

Main Methods:

• Rats underwent myocardial infarction (MI) or sham surgery, followed by 12 weeks of treatment with or without empagliflozin (EMPA).
• Cardiac structure (chamber dimensions, ejection fraction) and soleus muscle characteristics (cross-sectional area, protein expression, oxidative stress markers, metabolic enzyme activity) were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Empagliflozin attenuated cardiac remodeling, reducing left atrial and ventricular dimensions in MI rats.
• In soleus muscle, EMPA increased cross-sectional area and Type II myosin heavy chain expression.
• EMPA reduced oxidative stress markers, enhanced mitochondrial Complex I expression, normalized metabolic enzyme activity, and modulated anabolic/catabolic protein balance.

Conclusions:

• Empagliflozin effectively attenuates cardiac remodeling post-myocardial infarction in a rat model.
• In soleus muscle, empagliflozin preserves cellular integrity, combats oxidative stress, and optimizes metabolic and protein regulatory pathways, highlighting its potential benefits for skeletal muscle health in HF.