Contribution of ventricular remodeling to pathogenesis of heart failure in rats.

We previously reported an approximately 50% incidence of rats with symptoms of congestive heart failure (CHF) at 8 wk postinfrarenal aorto-caval fistula. However, it was not clear whether compensatory ventricular remodeling could continue beyond 8 wk or whether the remaining animals would have developed CHF or died. Therefore, the intent of this study was to complete the characterization of this model of sustained volume overload by determining the morbidity and mortality and the temporal response of left ventricular (LV) remodeling and function beyond 8 wk. The findings demonstrate an upper limit to LV hypertrophy and substantial increases in LV volume and compliance, matrix metalloproteinase activity, and collagen volume fraction associated with the development of CHF. There was an 80% incidence of morbidity and mortality following 21 wk of chronic volume overload. These findings indicate that the development of CHF is triggered by marked ventricular dilatation and increased compliance occurring once the myocardial hypertrophic response is exhausted.