title: A rabbit model to study regression of ventricular hypertrophy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study is to develop and characterise a reproducible rabbit model of LVH regression following pressure-induced myocardial hypertrophy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Without endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation, a median sternotomy was performed. The median incision was made exactly along the midline of the sternum. Ascending aortic diameter was reduced 50% above the aortic valve, which lead to an approximate 75% reduction in crosssectional area. The sham-operated rabbits underwent the same procedures without actual ligation of the aorta. The animals of early DB group and late DB group were subjected to the second operation for removing the ligation eight weeks or 16 weeks after the initial banding surgery, respectively. Echocardiography, haemodynamic assessment, histology, and electron microscopy were used to assess functional and structural aspects of myocardial hypertrophy at each time point.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pressure overload resulted in robust LVH assessed by echocardiography, haemodynamic assessment, LV weight/body weight ratios, histology, and electron microscopy. Ascending aortic debanding completely or partially reversed LVH. The degree of LVH regression was association with the duration of pressure overload, proved by the fact that restoration of LV structure and function was complete in animals subjected to eight weeks of aortic banding but incomplete in animals subjected to 16 weeks of aortic banding. The animals did not experience severe mechanical ventilatory impairment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate an efficient and reproducible method of promoting LVH regression in rabbits without endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation.
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China.
authors: Zhe
authors: Z
authors: Zhao
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Chen
authors: Ying-Bin
authors: YB
authors: Xiao
authors: Jia
authors: J
authors: Hao
authors: Chu-Zhong
authors: CZ
authors: Tang
authors: De-Zhi
authors: DZ
authors: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors