Modulation of Vascular ACE by Oxidative Stress in Young Syrian Cardiomyopathic Hamsters: Therapeutic Implications.

Increased vascular angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity and oxidative stress are present in young Syrian cardiomyopathic hamsters (SCH) before the clinical manifestation of heart failure (HF). The developmental time-course of these alterations and their potential interactions, however, are still unknown. We evaluated mRNA and protein levels of ACE, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the vasculature of SCH from one to four months of age.

Atorvastatin improves systolic function, but does not prevent the development of dilated cardiomyopathy in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Background: Therapy with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) has been associated with a significant reduction in the number of major cardiovascular (CV) events in diabetic patients. The mechanisms by which these drugs improve cardiac status remain unclear. We assessed the effects of atorvastatin (10 mg/kg/day) on CV function in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

Daily administration of atorvastatin and simvastatin for one week improves cardiac function in type 1 diabetic rats.

Short-term administration of statins during the perioperative period has been suggested to improve cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac and vascular surgery. The effectiveness of this therapy, the optimal administration time and the statin best suited to improve cardiac performance under hyperglycemic conditions, however, are unknown. In this study, we compared the effects of 10 mg/kg/day simvastatin (SV), pravastatin (PV) and atorvastatin (AV), on the CV status of fully anesthetized streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats 4 weeks following diabetes induction.

Diabetes alters cardiovascular responses to anaesthetic induction agents in STZ-diabetic rats.

Background: People with diabetes are at increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality during surgery. The most appropriate anaesthetic induction agent for these patients is unknown.

Methods And Results: We assessed the CV effects of propofol, etomidate and ketamine in streptozotocin (65 mg/kg, IP) diabetic rats.

Chronic treatment with N-acetylcysteine improves cardiac function but does not prevent progression of cardiomyopathy in Syrian cardiomyopathic hamsters.

Oxidative stress has been postulated to contribute to the onset and development of heart failure (HF). The efficacy of antioxidant therapy in HF, however, remains controversial. This study evaluates the effect of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC, 1 g/kg per day) on cardiovascular function in 2- and 6-month-old Bio-TO2 Syrian cardiomyopathic hamsters (SCH) after treatment for 1 month and 5 months with this drug.

Enalapril and losartan are more effective than carvedilol in preventing dilated cardiomyopathy in the Syrian cardiomyopathic hamster.

To assess the role of the renin-angiotensin (RAS) and adrenergic systems in the development and progression of dilated cardiomyopathy in the Syrian cardiomyopathic hamster (SCH), echocardiographic parameters were evaluated in 6-month-old animals after 5 months of treatment with enalapril (25 mg/kg/day) plus losartan (10 mg/kg/day), or with carvedilol (1 mg/kg/day). Cardiac output indexes (COI) increased by 53% after RAS blockade and by 20% after beta-blockade in SCH. Moreover, LVEDV and LVESV decreased 30% and 62%, respectively (P < .

Cardiac oxidative stress is elevated at the onset of dilated cardiomyopathy in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

The association between nitric oxide synthase (eNOS and iNOS) status, oxidative stress, and cardiac function was evaluated in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats to understand the etiology of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Cardiac function was determined by echocardiography. eNOS and iNOS status and superoxide production were assessed by immunohistochemistry and chemiluminescence, respectively.

Chronic administration of carvedilol improves cardiac function in 6-month-old Syrian cardiomyopathic hamsters.

Heart failure (HF) is a multifactorial and progressive disease that has been linked to activation of the renin-angiotensin and sympathetic systems. In recent years, beta-blockers have been shown to improve the status of HF patients, although the precise mechanisms remain unclear. The present study evaluates the effect of beta-blockade with carvedilol (1 mg/kg/day) on cardiovascular function in 2- and 6-month-old cardiomyopathic hamsters (SCH) after 1-month and 5-month treatment periods with the drug, respectively.