Work

Left ventricular hypertrophy is prevalent in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: Unrecognized cardiovascular abnormalities may confound the interpretation of research data collected using rats. However, although SPF rat colonies are screened for microbes and kept under standardized environmental conditions, their cardiovascular status is largely unknown. We recently performed surgery on anesthetized 80-d-old Sprague-Dawley rats and observed a high mortality that could not be attributed to the procedures or preceding treatments. Upon necropsy, cardiomyopathy was readily apparent in a substantial proportion of these rats. To further evaluate the nature of this condition, we evaluated the histology and morphology of hearts from both Sprague-Dawley and Lewis rats. Compared with Lewis rats, Sprague-Dawley rats had greater left ventricular wall thickness and larger cardiomyocyte cell size. Severe left ventricle hypertrophy was present in 38% of young adult Sprague-Dawley rats. These findings may have implications for research models that use Sprague-Dawley rats.

Source: PubMed

Authors: Ryan M McAdams, Ronald J McPherson, Nazila M Dabestani, Christine A Gleason, Sandra E Juul

Institution: University of Washington

Language: English

Topic: Cardiomyopathy and Myosin Studies

Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institutes of Health

Award: Neonatal Morphine: Long-term Cerebrovascular Effects