Effect of ovariectomy in heart failure-prone SHHF/Mcc-fa(cp) rats

Leslie C. Sharkey, Bethany J. Holycross, Sonhee Park, Sylvia A. McCune, Roger Hoversland, M. Judith Radin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

The importance of the loss of ovarian function to the progression of hypertension and heart disease in women is controversial. We investigated whether ovariectomy would accelerate development of hypertension, congestive heart failure, and neurohumoral activation in adult spontaneous hypertension heart failure (SHHF) rats, a genetic model of heart failure. Six months after ovariectomy, no significant differences between control and ovariectomized rats were seen in systolic or diastolic blood pressure, left ventricular fractional shortening by echocardiography, or heart weight. Percent V1 myosin isozyme was significantly lower in ovariectomized rats. Northern blot analysis failed to show significant differences between groups in expression of hepatic angiotensinogen, renal renin, or left ventricular atrial or brain natriuretic peptide mRNA. In a second experiment, serial measures of systolic pressure and left ventricular shortening fractions failed to document a significant difference between control and ovariectomized rats as they developed heart failure, although there was a significant decline in shortening fraction in both groups at the age when regular estrous cycling naturally ceases. Survival time was similar between groups. In summary, ovariectomy of adult SHHF rats does not appear to affect the progression of genetically programmed hypertension and heart failure in this model.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)R1968-R1976
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology
Volume275
Issue number6 44-6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Atrial natriuretic peptide
  • Heart failure
  • Hypertension
  • Renin- angiotensin system
  • Shortening fraction

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effect of ovariectomy in heart failure-prone SHHF/Mcc-fa(cp) rats'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this