Short-Term Cigarette Smoking in Rats Impairs Physical Capacity and Induces Cardiac Remodeling

Abstract

Despite the strong evidence on the cardiac and renal damages after chronic exposure to cigarette smoke, there is a paucity of data on its short-term effects. The study evaluated the short-term effects of cigarette smoking on left ventricular (LV) remodeling, in vitro myocardial and renal function. Female Wistar rats were randomized to control (C) and cigarette smoking rats for eight weeks. Physical capacity was assessed using an adapted model of exhaustive swim; left ventricle (LV) morphology and function were also evaluated. Renal function was assessed by creatinine clearance and urine protein. The in vitro myocardial performance was analyzed in isolated papillary muscles. Rats exhibited reduced physical capacity after short-term cigarette smoking. Although there was no change on LV function, reduced chamber diameter was found in the smoking group associated with an increased LV wall thickness. There was augmented cardiac mass compared to C that was confirmed by increased cardiomyocyte nucleus volume, but in vitro myocardial performance and renal function were unchanged. A short-term cigarette smoking induces cardiac remodeling without abnormalities in function. The smoking group still preserved renal function and in vitro myocardial performance. However, the reduced physical capacity may suggest an impairment of the cardiac reserve.

An integral perspective of canonical cigarette and e-cigarette-related cardiovascular toxicity based on the adverse outcome pathway framework

“…Besides, Danilo et al’s observed significant changes in the structure of the heart of Wistar rats, especially the left ventricle. Compared with the control group, left ventricular diameter decreased during both diastole and systole, while left ventricular posterior wall thickness increased, but there were no abnormalities in cardiac function [298] . In another study focusing on smoke-induced cardiac remodeling and dysfunction, echocardiography showed that compared with the control group, the end-systolic size of the left ventricle was significantly increased in Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to cigarette smoke, while the posterior wall size of the end-systolic left ventricle was significantly decreased.…”