Systemic and regional haemodynamics in conscious BIO T0-2 cardiomyopathic hamsters.
OBJECTIVE
The recently developed BIO T0-2 strain of cardiomyopathic hamster shows a uniform pathogenesis of dilated cardiomyopathy and represents a useful model of congestive heart failure. Although used in biochemical studies, BIO T0-2 animals have not been characterised by haemodynamic measurements. The aim was to compare the systemic and the regional haemodynamic variables in conscious BIO T0-2 animals at a stage of compensated heart failure with those of age matched normal hamsters of BIO F1B designation.


METHODS
Hamsters were studied at 8-10 months of age, a stage at which the BIO T0-2 animals have been found to have non-oedematous heart failure. Catheters were implanted in normal and cardiomyopathic hamsters. Following a 3 h recovery, systemic and regional haemodynamic variables were measured with pressure transducers and radioactive microspheres.


RESULTS
BIO T0-2 hamsters had lower (p < 0.05) mean arterial pressure [83(SEM 3) v 126(2) mm Hg] and cardiac index [205(19) v 338(25) ml.min-1.kg-1], and higher (p < 0.05) left ventricular end diastolic pressure [21(1) v 4(1) mm Hg] and total peripheral resistance index [30(4) v 15(2) mm Hg.min.ml-1.kg-1] than BIO F1B animals. Blood flows to the heart and kidneys were less (p < 0.05) in BIO T0-2 than in BIO F1B animals.


CONCLUSIONS
The haemodynamic profile in the BIO T0-2 strain of cardiomyopathic hamsters is characterised by low cardiac output, increased preload, and reduced renal blood flow, and resembles that in many patients with congestive heart failure.
Panchal
B C
BC
Department of Pharmacology, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Princeton, NJ 08543-4000.
Trippodo
N C
NC
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000503:physiopathology; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012079:Renal Circulation / Q000502:physiology