Limited Impact of β-Adrenergic Receptor Activation on Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Rat Models of Hypertensive Heart Disease.

Background: Hypertension is a major cause of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction. Although β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) blockers are often used to manage hypertension, the impact of β-AR activation on LV lusitropic effects and hence filling pressures in the hypertensive heart with LV diastolic dysfunction is uncertain.

Methods: Using tissue Doppler imaging and Speckle tracking software, we assessed LV function in isoflurane anesthetised spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and Dahl salt-sensitive (DSS) rats before and after β-AR activation [isoproterenol (ISO) administration].