P226 Empagliflozin Is Able to Reduce Collagen Deposition Improving Heart Function in Myocardial Infarcted Rats

Cardiovascular diseases, particularly Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI), are the leading cause of death worldwide. Studies show that empagliflozin improves cardiac function and outcomes in patients with heart failure. This study hypothesizes that different doses of empagliflozin (3 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg) affect collagen deposition and cardiac function differently. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control (Ctrl), infarcted (AMI), infarcted treated with empagliflozin 3 mg/kg (AMI+EMPA3), and infarcted treated with empagliflozin 10 mg/kg (AMI+EMPA10). Infarcted groups underwent left coronary artery occlusion. Treated groups received empagliflozin for 14 days via oral gavage. Echocardiographic evaluation was followed by euthanasia and tissue collection. Collagen deposition was assessed histologically and stained with picrosirius red, with area calculations done. Data were analyzed using the 1-way ANOVA test. Echocardiographic results showed an improvement in diastolic function index (E’/A’) in the AMI+EMPA10 group (1.654 ± 0.3) in relation to the Ctrl (0.98 ± 0.5), AMI (0.58 ± 0.1) and AMI+EMPA3 (1.02 ± 0.4). Systolic function, measured by ejection fraction, was reduced in AMI (30.14 ± 9.7%) and AMI+EMPA3 (33.68 ± 13.2%) compared to Ctrl (77.09 ± 8.1%). The AMI+EMPA10 group showed improved ejection fraction (50.69 ± 14.5%). Fractional area change showed similar patterns (Ctrl: 61.18 ± 5.7; AMI: 23.94 ± 5.7%; AMI+EMPA3: 27.39 ± 7.2%; AMI+EMPA10: 38.46 ± 7.1%). Histology revealed no difference in total left ventricle area among groups, but collagen area was increased in AMI (81.30 ± 16.2 mm 2 ) and AMI+EMPA3 (86.64 ± 15.3 mm 2 ) compared to Ctrl (62.89 ± 16.2 mm 2 ), but not in AMI+EMPA10 (77.68 ± 8.5 mm 2 ). In conclusion, empagliflozin treatment improved left ventricular diastolic and systolic function dose-dependently and reduced collagen deposition in infarcted rats. Supported by: CNPq 312962/2020-7