Association of hypercholesterolemia and cardiac function evaluated by speckle tracking echocardiography in a rabbit model

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD), only limited data are available regarding its direct effect on myocardial function apart from CAD. The aim of this study was to evaluate LV systolic function using speckle-tracking echocardiography and investigate the relationship between hypercholesterolemia and myocardial function.MethodsTwenty-eight rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: 8 were fed normal chow for 3 months (group 1) and the remaining 20 were fed an atherogenic diet for 2 (group 2) or 3 months (group 3). Global systolic radial, circumferential and longitudinal peak strain were calculated. Serum total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and myocardial cholesterol levels were measured.ResultsGlobal systolic longitudinal strain were both decreased in the group 2 and 3 (P < 0.001), whereas radial strain were increased (P < 0.001) compared with group 1. Global circumferential strain in the group 3 was significantly reduced (P < 0.001). Serum and myocardial cholesterol concentration markedly increased in the group 2 and group 3 (P < 0.001). There was a significant inverse correlation between longitudinal strain and serum TC, LDL-C as well as myocardial cholesterol levels (r = - 0.723, r = - 0.794, r = - 0.700, P both < 0.001). A significant negative correlation was also noted between circumferential strain and serum TC, LDL-C as well as myocardial cholesterol levels (r = - 0.518, P = 0.007; r = - 0.691, P < 0.001; r = - 0.659, P < 0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between radial strain and serum TC, LDL-C as well as myocardial cholesterol levels (r = 0.432, P = 0.028; r = 0.602, P = 0.001; r = 0.469, P = 0.016).ConclusionAlthough LV morphology and ejection fractions were not different among the three groups, elevated concentration of cholesterol, especially in serum LDL-C, was significantly associated with LV systolic dysfunction. The findings also indicate that reductions in longitudinal was the first appeared, followed by circumferential, and was compensated for by increasing radial strain.

Cholesterol remnants and triglycerides are associated with decreased myocardial function in patients with type 2 diabetes

“…Animal models have linked cholesterol levels with changes in both diastolic and systolic performance [ 22 , 23 ] and one study found an association with LV ejection fraction and HDL-cholesterol in patients with angina pectoris [ 24 ]. In a recent paper, Mochizuki et al [ 25 ] studied the clinical features of decreased GLS in 144 patients with diabetes and found that among others hypertriglyceridemia was closely associated with low GLS.…”

Modulation of Hypercholesterolemia‐Induced Oxidative/Nitrative Stress in the Heart

“…Quercetin . The cardioprotective effect of the dietary flavonoid quercetin (found in many fruits, vegetables, leaves, and grains) against ischemia/reperfusion injury is well studied [ 159 – 163 ]; however, few studies are available in the literature regarding the impact on hypercholesterolemia-induced oxidative stress in the heart. It was reported that quercetin ameliorates left ventricular function, collagen deposition, and inflammatory cell infiltration in rats with metabolic syndrome [ 164 ].…”

A Comorbidity Model of Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury and Hypercholesterolemia in Rat Cardiac Myocyte Cultures

“…After 10 weeks of cholesterol feeding, both systolic and diastolic impairments were detected without hypertrophy or elevated blood pressure in rabbits (Huang et al, 2004). Reduced myocardial strain was detected with speckle tracking echocardiography in rabbit after 2-and 3-month atherogenic feeding, without atherosclerosis (Liu et al, 2014). It was shown in a hypercholesterolemic rat model that sterol esters affect membrane composition, increase erythrocyte osmotic fragility and decrease antioxidant enzyme levels (Sengupta and Ghosh, 2014).…”