Abstract
Summary
Cardiac hemodynamic function of genetically obese male Zucker rats and lean male littermates was studied using an isolated ejecting whole heart preparation. Minimal differences in function were observed between hearts from 9-week-old lean and obese rats. In contrast, hearts from 19-week-old obese rats exhibited depressed ventricular function curves accom-panied by decreased stroke work, maximum power, and efficiency in hypoxia, and reduced response to dobutamine in hypoxia compared with controls. These findings suggest that chronic severe obesity in the Zucker rat is associated with the development of diminished cardiac resistance to hypoxic stress.
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