Animal models of psychogenic cardiovascular disorders: what we can learn from them and what we cannot

Abstract

1. Epidemiological and clinical studies from the past 50 years provide unequivocal evidence for a close association and causative links between psychological stresses and cardiovascular dysfunction in humans. Not surprisingly, numerous animal experiments have been undertaken in an attempt to clarify underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. The present review focuses on animal models that provide insight into the mechanisms of stress-induced cardiovascular dysfunction. 2. Great success was achieved in elucidating the neural pathways and neurotransmitters responsible for the cardiac consequences of acute stressors, such as stress-induced ventricular arrhythmias and stress cardiomyopathy. These disturbances were reproduced successfully in canine and rodent models. The most important finding from these animal models is that these disturbances are mediated by elevated sympathetic outflow to the ventricular myocardium. 3. In contrast, attempts to induce psychogenic hypertension in rodents produced inconsistent and contentious results. More recent studies using biotelemetry raised serious doubts regarding the validity of earlier results obtained with the tail-cuff method and it remains unclear whether chronic stress can lead to sustained hypertension in animal models.

Interaction of Stress and Dietary NaCl Intake in Hypertension: Renal Neural Mechanisms

“…Thus, these dietary NaCl-inducible responses appear to be genetically conveyed to the BHR by the hypertensive SHR parent in latent form. A similar view that there is a "potential genetic predisposition in the rats' sensitivity to stress" has been expressed previously (40).…”

“…When tail cuff blood pressure measurements are employed, the BHR develops hypertension in response to stress or increased dietary NaCl intake. These results have been criticized based on the tail cuff blood pressure measurement technique as studies using telemetric blood pressure recording have been unable to demonstrate stress-induced hypertension in BHR exposed to stress (40). However, BHR do develop sustained hypertension when fed an 8% NaCl diet (BHR-8% NaCl), but not a 1% NaCl diet (BHR-1% NaCl), from age 6 weeks to age 18 weeks as measured by direct intraarterial pressure recording (Fig.…”

Chronic stress impacts the cardiovascular system: animal models and clinical outcomes

“…Takotsubo syndrome, stress-induced cardiomyopathy, and broken heart syndrome all refer to a transient left ventricular dysfunctional syndrome wherein stress (physical or emotional) has a major role in its pathogenesis (238,256). Even though many of its clinical and laboratory signs (such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and electrocardiographic and angiographic features) resemble acute coronary symptoms, atherosclerosis has no role in the pathophysiology (331).…”

Psychosomatic reactions and hypertension in stress conditions

“…нормалне особе. Сви истраживачи порекла стреса указују на повишену осетљивост вазомоторног центра на стресогене дражи, што се исказује повишеним периферним лучењем норад-реналина 19,20 .…”