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Circulation. 2002;106:1140-1146
Published online before print August 5, 2002, doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000026805.41747.54
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(Circulation. 2002;106:1140.)
© 2002 American Heart Association, Inc.


Basic Science Reports

Hypercholesterolemia in Minipigs Impairs Left Ventricular Response to Stress

Association With Decreased Coronary Flow Reserve and Reduced Capillary Density

Gregor Theilmeier, MD*; Peter Verhamme, MD*; Steven Dymarkowski, MD; Heike Beck, MD; Hilde Bernar; Marleen Lox; Stefan Janssens, MD, PhD; Marie-Christine Herregods, MD, PhD; Erik Verbeken, MD, PhD; Désiré Collen, MD, PhD; Karl Plate, MD; Willem Flameng, MD, PhD; Paul Holvoet, PhD

From the Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology (G.T., D.C.) and Center for Experimental Surgery and Anesthesiology (P.V., H.B., M.L., W.F., P.H.), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Radiology (S.D.), Department of Cardiology (S.J., M.H.), and Department of Pathology (E.V.), UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Klinik und Poliklinik für Anästhesiologie und operative Intensivmedizin, University of Münster (G.T.), Münster, Germany; and Institut of Neurology (Edinger-Institute), University of Frankfurt (H.B., K.P.), Frankfurt, Germany.

Correspondence to Paul Holvoet, PhD, Center for Experimental Surgery and Anesthesiology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Herestraat 49, B3000 Leuven, Belgium. E-mail paul.holvoet{at}med.kuleuven.ac.be

Background— Hypercholesterolemia induces functional and structural changes of the microvasculature and reduces coronary flow reserve in humans and experimental animals. The effect of hypercholesterolemia on left ventricular (LV) function in the absence of coronary stenosis is, however, unknown. Our objective was therefore to assess the effect of hypercholesterolemia and cholesterol withdrawal on LV function in the presence of advanced coronary plaques that do not cause stenosis.

Methods and Results— Twenty-eight minipigs on cholesterol diet for 34 weeks and 16 control pigs were studied. Seven hypercholesterolemic pigs were withdrawn from the diet for 26 weeks. LV function was assessed with cine-MRI, myocardial blood flow with colored microspheres, and capillary density with immunohistochemistry, and microvascular endothelial cell apoptosis with terminal dUTP nick-end labeling staining. Hypercholesterolemia (17±8 versus 268±150 versus 12±10 mg/dL LDL cholesterol, control versus hypercholesterolemic versus cholesterol withdrawal; P<0.001) induced atherosclerosis but not stenosis in the left coronary artery. Baseline cardiac output, ejection fraction, and stroke volume were similar in control and hypercholesterolemic pigs. In dobutamine stress test, cardiac output (P<0.05) and stroke volume (P<0.01) were lower in hypercholesterolemic pigs compared with controls. The impaired response to dobutamine was reversible by dietary cholesterol withdrawal. Hypercholesterolemia reduced endomyocardial coronary flow reserve (P<0.01) and capillary density (P<0.05) and induced capillary endothelial cell apoptosis. Hypercholesterolemic pigs failed to reduce vascular resistance in response to increased LV workload and pharmacological vasodilation.

Conclusion— LDL hypercholesterolemia in minipigs impaired LV response to dobutamine stress in the absence of coronary stenosis.


Key Words: arteriosclerosis • cardiac output • capillaries • microspheres • hypercholesterolemia




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