“…As published previously, obese ZSF1 rats were obese, hyperglycaemic, and hyperlipidaemic and showed increased plasma DPP-4 levels compared to lean control ZSF1 at 20 weeks (Figure S1A-F). 22,23 Obese ZSF1 rats showed signs of MetS-induced diastolic dysfunction and left ventricular stiffening, as reflected by a significantly increased mitral valve deceleration time, E/deceleration time ratio and non-flow time (NFT), and a slightly, although non-significantly increased isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), early mitral inflow peak velocity (E), and E/E' ratio (P = .06, .05, and .09, respectively) compared to lean ZSF1 rats ( Figure S1G-H and Table S1). In addition to signs of diastolic dysfunction, obese ZSF1 rats showed signs of cardiac remodelling, including increased total, perivascular, and interstitial fibrosis and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy ( Figure S2A-E), as published before.…”