Intrapericardial IGF-I improves cardiac function in an ovine model of chronic heart failure.

Background: Following myocardial infarction, progressive deterioration of left ventricular function often follows, leading eventually to overt heart failure. In the myocardium, there is increased expression of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) mRNA, protein and receptor levels, particularly in the peri-infarct zone, suggesting that IGF-I has a role to play in post-infarct cardiac structure and function. In this study, we examine the effects of exogenous IGF-I on cardiac function.