What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to evaluate whether levosimendan can prevent hypertension-related cardiac remodeling and apoptosis in Dahl/Rapp rats.

February 26, 2007British Journal of PharmacologyOpen Access

Effects of levosimendan on cardiac remodeling and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in hypertensive Dahl/Rapp rats

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Why the study?

Does levosimendan prevent hypertension-induced cardiac remodeling and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in a rat model of heart failure?

Population

6-week-old salt-sensitive Dahl/Rapp rats on high salt diet (NaCl 7%)

Comparison

Levosimendan for 7 weeks vs Untreated Dahl/Rapp rats on high salt diet

Design

Preclinical

Follow-up

7 weeks

Authors

MLMarjut LouhelainenUniversity of Helsinki EVErik VahtolaActive Biotech (Sweden)PKPetri KaheinenUniversity of Helsinki

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

May inform preclinical testing in hypertensive cardiomyopathy; leaves open clinical translation from this rat model.

Key Points

This research aims to evaluate whether levosimendan can prevent hypertension-related cardiac remodeling and apoptosis in Dahl/Rapp rats.
6-week-old Dahl/Rapp rats received either levosimendan or a high salt diet for 7 weeks.
Blood pressure, cardiac function via echocardiography, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis using TUNEL were assessed.
Myocardial expression of calcium cycling proteins and neurohumoral markers were analyzed.
38% of untreated rats survived after 7 weeks with severe hypertension and cardiac dysfunction.
Levosimendan improved survival rates significantly in the low- and high-dose groups (p<0.001 and p=0.05).
Levosimendan reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and improved cardiac function, normalizing the levels of natriuretic peptide.

Structured PICO

Does levosimendan prevent hypertension-induced cardiac remodeling and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in a rat model of heart failure?

Population

6-week-old salt-sensitive Dahl/Rapp rats on high salt diet (NaCl 7%)

Intervention

Levosimendan (0.3 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg via drinking fluid) for 7 weeks

Comparator

Untreated Dahl/Rapp rats on high salt diet (and Dahl/Rapp rats on low-salt diet as controls)

Outcome

Survival, cardiac remodeling, and cardiomyocyte apoptosissurrogate

In a rat model of hypertension-induced heart failure, levosimendan improved survival and ameliorated cardiac remodeling and cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

Cite This Study

Louhelainen et al. (2007) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a738db98412e8bdfca72d77 https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjp.0707157

Topics

Hypertension management

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Effects of levosimendan on cardiac remodeling and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in hypertensive Dahl/Rapp rats

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Structured PICO

Cite This Study

Topics

Effects of levosimendan on cardiac remodeling and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in hypertensive Dahl/Rapp rats

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Structured PICO

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Topics

Also Consider