title: Heart rate reduction by ivabradine improves aortic compliance in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Impaired vascular compliance is associated with cardiovascular mortality. The effects of heart rate on vascular compliance are unclear. Therefore, we characterized effects of heart rate reduction (HRR) by I(f) current inhibition on aortic compliance and underlying molecular mechanisms in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE(-)/(-)) mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  ApoE(-)/(-) mice fed a high-cholesterol diet and wild-type (WT) mice were treated with ivabradine (20 mg/kg/d) or vehicle for 6 weeks. Compliance of the ascending aorta was evaluated by MRI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ivabradine reduced heart rate by 113 ± 31 bpm (~19%) in WT mice and by 133 ± 6 bpm (~23%) in ApoE(-)/(-) mice. Compared to WT controls, ApoE(-)/(-) mice exhibited reduced distensibility and circumferential strain. HRR by ivabradine increased distensibility and circumferential strain in ApoE(-)/(-) mice but did not affect both parameters in WT mice. Ivabradine reduced aortic protein and mRNA expression of the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor and reduced rac1-GTPase activity in ApoE(-)/(-) mice. Moreover, membrane translocation of p47(phox) was inhibited. In ApoE(-)/(-) mice, HRR induced anti-inflammatory effects by reduction of aortic mRNA expression of IL-6, TNF-alpha and TGF-beta.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HRR by ivabradine improves vascular compliance in ApoE(-)/(-) mice. Contributing mechanisms include downregulation of the AT1 receptor, attenuation of oxidative stress and modulation of inflammatory cytokine expression.
authors: Kliniken für Innere Medizin III, Kardiologie, Angiologie und Internistische Intensivmedizin, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Germany. florian.custodis@uks.eu
authors: Florian
authors: F
authors: Custodis
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Fries
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Müller
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Stamm
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Grube
authors: Heyo K
authors: HK
authors: Kroemer
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Böhm
authors: Ulrich
authors: U
authors: Laufs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency*; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003187:Compliance / Q000187:drug effects; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077550:Ivabradine; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D001552:Benzazepines; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D000077550:Ivabradine; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; C060505:neutrophil cytosolic factor 1; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein