Assessment of cardiac function and myocardial morphology using small animal Look-Locker inversion recovery (SALLI) MRI in rats.

Small animal magnetic resonance imaging is an important tool to study cardiac function and changes in myocardial tissue. The high heart rates of small animals (200 to 600 beats/min) have previously limited the role of CMR imaging. Small animal Look-Locker inversion recovery (SALLI) is a T1 mapping sequence for small animals to overcome this problem.

Cannabinoid receptor 1 inhibition improves cardiac function and remodelling after myocardial infarction and in experimental metabolic syndrome.

The cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, are expressed in the heart, but their role under pathological conditions remains controversial. This study examined the effect of CB1 receptor blockade on cardiovascular functions after experimental MI and in experimental metabolic syndrome. MI was induced in Wistar rats by permanent ligation of the left coronary artery.

Transition from atherosclerosis to aortic aneurysm in humans coincides with an increased expression of RAS components.

While the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is widely recognized to be involved in atherosclerosis, its potential role in the progression from atherosclerotic lesions to abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is poorly understood. The present study aimed to investigate which components of the RAS may render the atherosclerotic aorta aneurysmatic. The expression of renin, prorenin/renin receptor, angiotensinogen, AT1- and AT2 receptors, cathepsin D, cathepsin G and chymase was examined by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry in human atherosclerotic, aneurysmatic and healthy aortic tissues obtained from patients undergoing elective repair or at autopsy.

Angiotensin II type 2 receptor stimulation: a novel option of therapeutic interference with the renin-angiotensin system in myocardial infarction?

Background: This study is the first to examine the effect of direct angiotensin II type 2 (AT(2)) receptor stimulation on postinfarct cardiac function with the use of the novel nonpeptide AT(2) receptor agonist compound 21 (C21).

Methods And Results: Myocardial infarction (MI) was induced in Wistar rats by permanent ligation of the left coronary artery. Treatment with C21 (0.

Telmisartan prevents aneurysm progression in the rat by inhibiting proteolysis, apoptosis and inflammation.

Objectives: We investigated the effects of treatment with the angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist, telmisartan, on abdominal aortic aneurysm formation in normotensive rats.

Methods: Abdominal aortic aneurysm was induced by perfusion of an isolated aortic segment with elastase. Treatment with telmisattan (0.