Functional and bioenergetic consequences of AT₁ antagonist olmesartan medoxomil in hearts with postinfarction LV remodeling

The structural left ventricular (LV) remodeling and contractile dysfunction of hearts with postinfarction LV remodeling are benefited by angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT₁) blocker. However, the myocardial bioenergetic consequences of AT₁ blocker in these hearts are not known. To investigate, we used a porcine model of postinfarction LV remodeling produced by ligation of the left circumflex coronary artery. After infarction, 7 pigs received olmesartan medoxomil (2 mg/kg) for comparison against 9 untreated and 10 normal pigs. Measurements of hemodynamics, myocardial perfusion, and myocardial bioenergetics were taken 7 weeks postinfarction. The treated group had an LV-to-body weight ratio significantly lower than the untreated group (2.69±0.70, 2.96±0.51, 3.66±0.60 g/kg for control, treated, and untreated groups, respectively). The untreated group had a mean aortic pressure significantly higher than the control (73±16, 86±14, and 94±20 mm Hg, respectively). The subendocardial phosphocreatine-to-ATP ratios of the treated group were significantly higher than that of the untreated group. The untreated group, but not the treated group, had significant reductions in mitochondrial F₀F₁-ATPase subunits compared with controls. Congestive heart failure as evidenced by significant ascites (100 to 2000 mL) developed in 4 of the 9 untreated animals, but was absent in the treated group. Animals with heart failure demonstrated reductions in both mitochondrial F₀F₁-ATPase expression and myocardial high-energy phosphate levels. Thus, severe LV dysfunction and accompanying abnormal myocardial bioenergetic phenotype were prevented by the AT1 antagonist olmesartan medoxomil.