In vitro assessment of cardiac performance after irradiation using an isolated working rat heart preparation

• Published in: International journal of radiation biology Vol. 59; no. 4; p. 1053
• Main Authors: Wondergem, J, van der Laarse, A, van Ravels, F J, van Wermeskerken, A M, Verhoeve, H R, de Graaf, B W, Leer, J W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 1991
• Subjects: Animals; Body Weight - radiation effects; Cardiac Output - radiation effects; Coronary Circulation - radiation effects; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Female; Heart - physiology; Heart - radiation effects; In Vitro Techniques; Organ Size - radiation effects; Perfusion - instrumentation; Perfusion - methods; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Time Factors
• DOI: 10.1080/09553009114550931
• ISSN: 0955-3002

The effect of irradiation on cardiac function was assessed using an isolated working rat heart preparation. The animals were given single doses of X-rays in the range 15-30 Gy to their hearts. Cardiac output (CO = aortic flow + coronary flow), heart weight and body weight were followed for a period of 10 months after treatment. Irradiation led to a decrease in cardiac function. This reduction was dose-dependent and progressive with time after treatment. The shape of the Frank-Starling curves constructed for irradiated hearts suggests a loss of contractile function of the myocardium. Coronary flow rates measured in 'working' hearts and in 'Langendorff' hearts were not significantly changed by the irradiation treatment. The isolated working rat heart preparation proved to be a simple and suitable animal model for the investigation of irradiation-induced cardiotoxicity.