Cardiac remodeling and diastolic dysfunction in DahlS.Z-Lepr(fa)/Lepr(fa) rats: a new animal model of metabolic syndrome.

We recently characterized male DahlS.Z-Lepr(fa)/Lepr(fa) (Dahl salt-sensitive (DS)/obese) rats, which were established from a cross between Dahl salt-sensitive and Zucker rats, as a new animal model of metabolic syndrome (MetS). We have now investigated cardiac pathophysiology and metabolic changes in female DS/obese rats in comparison with homozygous lean female littermates (DahlS.