Persistent Cardiac Dysfunction In Ovariectomized Independent Of Metabolic Disturbance

Objectives: Postmenopausal women are known to develop metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. We hypothesize that a murine model of ovariectomy (OVX) and high-fat diet (HFD), simulating a post-menopausal milieu, will have decreased activity, changes in body composition, and impaired cardiac activity. Methods: From 5 weeks of age, 11 C57BL/6 mice were fed a HFD and 10 were fed a control diet (CTL). At 12 weeks, 11 mice (5 HFD, 6 CTL) were ovariectomized (OVX). At 30 weeks mice body composition was analyzed with EchoMRI. Metabolic activity was monitored in Promethion metabolic cages for 48 hours. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed while mice were anesthetized with 2.5% isoflurane. Results: The OVX mice traveled the furthest distance, and HFD+OVX the shortest distance. HFD+OVX and HFD had increased energy expenditure and higher fat mass compared to CTL (Figure 1). All groups had increased LV Mass, and worse systolic function to control (Table 1). Conclusion: Ovariectomy could be associated in systolic dysfunction independent of development of metabolic syndrome.