Why the study?
Does chronic ethanol consumption alter the contractility and stiffness of heart muscle in a rat model?
Does chronic ethanol consumption alter the contractility and stiffness of heart muscle in a rat model?
Chronic alcohol consumption in rats leads to diminished myocardial contractility and increased active stiffness of the series elastic element, which may precede clinically apparent heart failure.
The response of the contractile and the series elastic elements to ethanol was studied isometric contraction and quick release methods after measuring the passive length-tension relationship in glycerinated heart muscle fibers of rats at resting state. In rats consuming 30% ethanol for an average of 5 weeks, maximal developed tension (P0), the maximal rate of tension development (dp/dtmax) and Vmax were significantly depressed, the time to peak tension (t0) was not changed. As in fresh papillary muscle the modulus of elasticity of active glycerinated muscle increased in proportion to load. The stiffness of the series elastic element showed significant elevation in rats receiving ethanol. The passive stiffness in resting state revealed no significant difference between control and alcohol exposed rats. Therefore, increased stiffness of the series elastic element and diminished contractility are present following chronic alcohol consumption.
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Maruyama et al. (1978) studied this question.
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