Renal ischemia/reperfusion-induced cardiac hypertrophy in mice: Cardiac morphological and morphometric characterization.

backgroundTissue remodeling is usually dependent on the deposition of extracellular matrix that may result in tissue stiffness and impaired myocardium contraction.

objectivesWe had previously demonstrated that renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is able to induce development of cardiac hypertrophy in mice. Therefore, we aimed to characterize renal I/R-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

designC57BL/6 J mice were subjected to 60 minutes' unilateral renal pedicle occlusion, followed by reperfusion (I/R) for 5, 8, 12 or 15 days. Gene expression, protein abundance and morphometric analyses were performed in all time points.

resultsLeft ventricle wall thickening was increased after eight days of reperfusion (p < 0.05). An increase in the number of heart ventricle capillaries and diameter after 12 days of reperfusion (p < 0.05) was observed; an increase in the density of capillaries starting at 5 days of reperfusion (p < 0.05) was also observed. Analyses of MMP2 protein levels showed an increase at 15 days compared to sham (p < 0.05). Moreover, TGF-β gene expression was downregulated at 12 days as well TIMP 1 and 2 (p < 0.05). The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that collagen content was altered only in the internal section of the heart (p < 0.05); such data were supported by collagen mRNA levels.

conclusionsRenal I/R leads to impactful changes in heart morphology, accompanied by an increase in microvasculature. Although it is clear that I/R is able to induce cardiac remodeling, such morphological changes is present in only a section of the heart tissue.