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Effects of a diet rich in Q-3 fatty acids on left ventricular geometry and dynamics in spontaneously hypertensive rats

European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology volume 61, pages 177–181 (1990)Cite this article

Summary

The aim of the present study was to investigate the chronic effects of a dietetic antihypertensive treatment on blood pressure, ventricular dynamics and geometry of the pressure loaded heart. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) received a standard diet enriched with 10% mackerel oil, containing 30% polyunsaturated Q-3 fatty acids, over a period of 70 days. As described previously the diet reduced blood pressure permanently by 40-50 mm Hg. Despite this reduction, the degree of left ventricular hypertrophy was only slightly (statistically insignificantly) reduced. This was probably a result of an increase in sympathetic tone as indicated by a raised pulse rate. On the other hand, the treatment prevented the development of eccentric hypertrophy, typical to the SHR, without changing the elastic material properties of the myocardium. Since the age-matched controls did not show significant degenerative alterations, protective effects at the level of myocardial tissue could not be demonstrated. Furthermore, future investigations need to investigate why myocardial contractility of the treated animals diminishes as observed in this study.

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Affiliations

  1. Physiologisches Institut II, Universität Tübingen, Gmelinstrasse 5, D-7400, Tübingen, Germany

    Marian Brändle & Ruthard Jacob

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  1. Marian Brändle
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  2. Ruthard Jacob
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Brändle, M., Jacob, R. Effects of a diet rich in Q-3 fatty acids on left ventricular geometry and dynamics in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Eur J Appl Physiol 61, 177–181 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00357595

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00357595

Key words

  • Spontaneously hypertensive rats
  • Q-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
  • Cardiac configuration
  • Myocardial elasticity
  • Myocardial contractility