Genetic deletion of Mas receptor in FVB/N mice impairs cardiac use of glucose and lipids.

Angiotensin-(1-7) is a biologically active product of the renin-angiotensin system cascade and exerts inhibitory effects on inflammation, vascular and cellular growth mechanisms signaling through the G protein-coupled Mas receptor. The major purpose of the present study was to investigate the use of glucose and fatty acids by cardiac tissue in Mas knockout mice models. Serum levels of glucose, lipids, and insulin were measured in Mas-deficient and wild-type FVB/N mice.

Improvement of the energy supply and contractile function in normal and ischemic rat hearts by dietary orotic acid.

Aims: As cardiac performance is closely related to its energy supply, our study investigated the effect of the orotic acid cardioprotective agent on the pathways of energy supply, in both conditions of normal flow and ischemia.

Main Methods: Male Wistar rats were fed during nine days with a balanced diet only or supplemented with 1% orotic acid.

Key Findings: Dietary administration of orotic acid increased the cardiac utilization of fatty acids, activity of the lipoprotein lipase, expression of the gene of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and its target enzymes.

Carbohydrate-enriched diet impairs cardiac performance by decreasing the utilization of fatty acid and glucose.

Aims: We hypothesized that a high-carbohydrate diet affects the cardiac performance by interfering in the metabolic steps involved in energy transfer in this organ. To verify this, we investigated the myocardial utilization of different substrates and contractile function in rats fed a high-carbohydrate diet, under normal flow and ischemia.

Methods: and

Results: Male Wistar rats were fed over 9 days with standard (39.