Right and left ventricular function after chronic pulmonary artery banding in rats assessed with biventricular pressure-volume loops

In many patients with congenital heart disease, the right ventricle (RV) is subjected to abnormal loading conditions. To better understand the state of compensated RV hypertrophy, which could eventually progress to decompensation, we studied the effects of RV pressure overload in rats. In the present study, we report the biventricular adaptation to 6 wk of pulmonary artery banding (PAB). PAB resulted in an RV pressure overload to approximately 60% of systemic level and a twofold increase in RV mass (P < 0.01). Systemic hemodynamic parameters were not altered, and overt signs of heart failure were absent. Load-independent measures of ventricular function (end-systolic pressure-volume relation, preload recruitable stroke work relation, maximum first time derivative of pressure divided by end-diastolic volume), assessed by means of pressure-volume (PV) loops, demonstrated a two- to threefold increase in RV contractility under baseline conditions in PAB rats. RV contractility increased in response to dobutamine stimulation (2.5 microg.kg(-1).min(-1)) both in PAB and sham-operated rats in a similar fashion, indicating preserved RV contractile reserve in PAB rats. Left ventricular (LV) contractility at baseline was unaffected in PAB rats, although LV volume in PAB rats was slightly decreased. LV contractility increased in response to dobutamine (2.5 microg.kg(-1).min(-1)), both in PAB and sham rats, whereas the response to a higher dose of dobutamine (5 microg.kg(-1).min(-1)) was blunted in PAB rats. RV pressure overload (6 wk) in rats resulted in a state of compensated RV hypertrophy with preserved RV contractile reserve, whereas LV contractile state at baseline was not affected. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the feasibility of performing biventricular PV-loop measurements in rats.