Cardiac morphology and function in senescent rats: gender-related differences.
Journal Article
Objectives
We sought to better understand the effects of aging and gender on left ventricular (LV) structure and function.Background
Cardiovascular disease in older persons is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. The influence of gender on age-related cardiac changes is incompletely characterized.Methods
We studied 34 senescent, male and female, normotensive Fischer rats with transthoracic Doppler echocardiography and morphometric and histopathologic analyses.Results
Male rats were larger (396 +/- 31 g vs. 282 +/- 35 g), and LV mass in males was greater (1.04 +/- 0.22 g vs. 0.67 +/- 0.13 g). However, wall and chamber dimensions normalized to body weight revealed proportionately thicker anterior and posterior walls in females. Relative wall thickness ratio (2 [Diastolic posterior wall thickness]/Diastolic LV internal chamber diameter) was greater in females, but abnormal fractional shortening and diastolic filling (E/A ratio) patterns were more common in males. Significant mitral regurgitation (MR) was sevenfold more common among males (88% vs. 12%, p < 0.001). Histopathologic analysis showed that the cardiac myocytes were larger, and there was greater LV fibrosis in males (both p < 0.001).Conclusions
Gender-related morphologic and functional differences are important to consider in cardiovascular assessment. Very old rats show significant gender differences in LV size and function. Male rat hearts are larger, thinner and more fibrotic and have indexes of diminished performance. The high prevalence of MR in male rats may play a crucial role in these gender differences.Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Forman, DE; Cittadini, A; Azhar, G; Douglas, PS; Wei, JY
Published Date
- December 1997
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 30 / 7
Start / End Page
- 1872 - 1877
PubMed ID
- 9385921
Pubmed Central ID
- 9385921
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1558-3597
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0735-1097
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1016/s0735-1097(97)00411-7
Language
- eng