Effects of adiponectin deficiency on structural and metabolic remodeling in mice subjected to pressure overload.

Recent data suggest adiponectin, an adipocyte-derived hormone, affects development of heart failure in response to hypertension. Severe short-term pressure overload [1–3 wk of transverse aortic constriction (TAC)] in adiponectin−/− mice causes greater left ventricle (LV) hypertrophy than in wild-type (WT) mice, but conflicting results are reported regarding LV remodeling, with either increased or decreased LV end diastolic volume compared with WT mice. Here we assessed the effects of prolonged TAC on LV hypertrophy and remodeling. WT and adiponectin−/− mice were subjected to TAC and maintained for 6 wk. Regardless of strain, TAC induced similar LV hypertrophy (∼70%) and upregulation of mRNA for heart failure marker genes. However, LV chamber size was dramatically different, with classic LV dilation in WT TAC mice but concentric LV hypertrophy in adiponectin−/− mice. LV end diastolic and systolic volumes were lower and ejection fraction higher in adiponectin−/− TAC mice compared with WT, indicating that ad...