Basic fibroblast growth factor attenuates left-ventricular remodeling following surgical ventricular restoration in a rat ischemic cardiomyopathy model.

OBJECTIVE: Although surgical ventricular restoration for ischemic cardiomyopathy is expected as an alternative or bridge to heart transplantation, post-operative remodeling of left ventricle (LV) needs to be addressed. This study aimed to examine the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), which induces angiogenesis and tissue regeneration in ischemic myocardium, to prevent remodeling after surgical ventricular restoration (SVR) using a rat ischemic cardiomyopathy model.

METHODS: Four weeks after coronary artery ligation, rats were divided into two groups: rats treated with SVR alone (SVR; n = 21), and rats treated with SVR and local sustained release of bFGF using gelatin hydrogel sheet (SVR + bFGF; n = 22). Cardiac function was assessed by serial echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. Cardiac tissue sections were histologically examined for vascular density and fibrosis.

RESULTS: Higher systolic function and lower LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were observed in rats treated with SVR + bFGF (SVR vs SVR + bFGF; Ees: 0.22 ± 0.11 vs 0.33 ± 0.22 mmHg/μL, p = 0.0328; LVEDP: 12.7 ± 7.0 vs 8.5 ± 4.3 mmHg, p = 0.0230). LV area tended to be lower in rats treated with SVR + bFGF compared to rats treated with SVR alone (left-ventricular end-diastolic area: 0.66 ± 0.07 vs 0.62 ± 0.07 cm2, p = 0.071). Vascular density tended to be higher in rats treated with SVR + bFGF than those without bFGF (23.3 ± 8.1 vs 28.8 ± 9.5/mm2, p = 0.0509).

CONCLUSIONS: BFGF induced angiogenesis and attenuated remodeling after SVR which secured the efficacy of SVR in a rat ischemic cardiomyopathy model.