Effects of (-)-epicatechin in cardiac hypertrophy of male rats obese by programing
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The obesogenic maternal environment can lead to cardiac hypertrophy in the offspring. The aim of this study was to investigate whether (-)-epicatechin (Epi) modify the expression of genes related to pathological cardiac hypertrophy (CH), and its physiological pathway, in offspring obese by programing. Four groups of eight male offspring Wistar rats of 110 days were randomly selected to control groups [C and offspring of maternal obesity (MO)] or to Epi groups (C + Epi or MO + Epi). In heart tissue, we evaluated the size of the ventricular walls and cavities, presence of fibrosis, mRNA and protein of Myh6, Myh7, Anp, Bnp, Acta 1, Col1a1, Akt, and Mtor. We observed an increase of the heart weight/body ratio in groups treated with Epi. Only in MO group, heart area and its perimeter were increased, as well as Myh7 and Anp mRNA. We found a significant decrease of fibrosis area in male offspring treatment with Epi. In Epi group Anp mRNA was decreased whilst Anp protein in MO group was increased; further, a decrease in Col1a1 protein was found in MO group. In conclusion, the maternal obesity activates pathological CH markers reactivating fetal cardiac genes involved in histological changes observed in cardiac tissue. Epi treatment decreased the content of collagen area and expression of some fetal cardiac genes participating in this pathway in offspring of maternal obesity.
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,550
OpenAlex ID: W4413027286