Key result
Six-week tachypacing induces stable HF in minipigs, reducing LVEF to ~21% alongside significant LV dilation.
Why the study?
Tachypacing is the gold standard to induce dilated cardiomyopathy with reduced ejection fraction in large animals, but it is not exempt from failures and can cause relevant stress.
Does a refined tachypacing protocol induce stable dilated cardiomyopathy with reduced stress in a porcine model compared to controls?
Does a refined tachypacing protocol induce stable dilated cardiomyopathy with reduced stress in a porcine model compared to controls?
Effect estimate: LV EF: HF 21% vs Control 48% (p<0.001); LV end-systolic volume: HF 45 mL vs Control 16 mL (p<0.05); LV end-diastolic volume: HF 54 mL vs Control 35 mL (p<0.01); Mean aortic pressure similar between groups; Cardiac output and LV CPO decreased in HF group; Pulmonary vascular resistance increased in HF group (p<0.05)
Absolute Event Rate: 21% vs 48%
p-value: p=LV EF p<0.001; LV ESV p<0.05; LV EDV p<0.01
A refined tachypacing protocol in minipigs successfully induces stable heart failure with reduced ejection fraction while minimizing animal stress and mortality.
Should not yet change clinical HF practice; extends preclinical DCM research via reliable low-stress minipig tachypacing.
Background Preclinical models of heart failure (HF) play a key role in developing new therapeutic strategies. Tachypacing is the gold standard to induce dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) with reduced ejection fraction (EF) in large animals, but it is not exempted from failures and can induce relevant stress. Aim Establishing a revised porcine model of tachypacing-induced HF to improve reliability and reduce stress on the animals. Methods Eight ( n = 8) females Göttingen minipigs were divided in two groups: 4 animals were implanted a right ventricular two-lead pacemaker to induce HF via tachypacing, while 4 animals without implant served as controls. After a recovery period, pigs were paced asynchronously at 180 bpm for 2-weeks and 200 bpm for 4-weeks. Disease progression was assessed by echocardiography, while hemodynamics was measured invasively before sacrifice. Stress was evaluated by jacketed external telemetry (JET), cortisol, body weight, and clinical symptoms. Results Echocardiographic assessment showed that all paced animals developed stable DCM as demonstrated by increase of end-systolic and end-diastolic volume at highly depressed ejection fraction. Invasive measurements confirmed these results with stable mAOP despite impaired pump function. JET showed no alterations of respiratory rate and daily activity throughout the protocol. Cortisol and cortisone levels and body weight showed no significant differences between groups or during pacing. Conclusions We established a reliable model of tachypacing-induced HF based on slower pacing and milder progression to HF, while reducing the stress and suffering of the animals.
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Berboth et al. (2026) studied Female Göttingen minipigs with tachypacing-induced compensated heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (n=8). Tachypacing using right ventricular two-lead pacemaker vs. Control group without pacemaker implant was evaluated on Development of heart failure characterized by reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LV EF) and ventricular dilation (LV end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes) assessed by echocardiography; invasive hemodynamics including mean aortic pressure (mAOP), cardiac output (CO), and left ventricular cardiac power output (LV CPO) (LV EF: HF 21% vs Control 48% (p<0.001); LV end-systolic volume: HF 45 mL vs Control 16 mL (p<0.05); LV end-diastolic volume: HF 54 mL vs Control 35 mL (p<0.01); Mean aortic pressure similar between groups; Cardiac output and LV CPO decreased in HF group; Pulmonary vascular resistance increased in HF group (p<0.05), p=LV EF p<0.001; LV ESV p<0.05; LV EDV p<0.01). Tachypacing at 180-200 bpm for 6 weeks induced stable compensated heart failure with LV ejection fraction reduced to 21% versus 48% in controls, accompanied by significant LV dilation and impaired cardiac output without increased stress in female minipigs.
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