Relationship between hepatic steatosis progression and cardiovascular performance under chronic nutritional overload

Abstract

To evaluate whether hepatic steatosis progression might be a risk factor for cardiovascular performance alteration under chronic nutritional overload. Male Wistar rats were divided to receive chow diet (C) or high‐fat diet plus sugar (300g/L of water) (H) for 6, 12 and 24 weeks. Adiposity index and hepatic and plasma triacylglycerol (TG) as well as free fatty acid (FFA) concentration were evaluated. Hepatic steatosis was analyzed by H&E staining. Cardiovascular performance was analyzed by a two‐dimensional echocardiography. Two‐Way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test were used. The nutritional overload significantly increased adiposity index in all three experimental times in H group compared to C. The higher adipose tissue was associated with elevated plasma TG levels, while plasma FFA was influenced just with long‐term of obesity. The nutritional overload resulted in a time‐dependent hepatic steatosis progression in H group. Hepatic TG and FFA concentration was elevated in H group than C group in all moments. These metabolic changes in the livers did not result in any dysregulation of cardiac morphology and function. In conclusion, chronic nutritional overload induced and promoted hepatic steatosis progression. However, this metabolic scenario did not alter cardiovascular performance evaluated by in vivo two dimensional echocardiography. Supported by FAPESP: 2011/21664–9 and 2011/09945–2