Study of electrocardiogram parameters in rats in the sucrose model of metabolic syndrome

Background. Existing data regarding electrocardiographic changes in rat models of metabolic syndrome are incomplete and contradictory.

The aim. Study of electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters in rats in the sucrose model of metabolic syndrome.

Materials and methods. Experiments were performed on male Wistar rats. During the entire experiment (11–13 weeks), the animals had free access to dry food, regular and sugar-sweetened (30 %) drinking water. A glucose tolerance test (GTT), ECG, random glucose, insulin, cholesterol and organ weight measurements were also performed.

Results. Experimental animals preferred to drink sweetened water but almost completely compensated for the excess calories obtained from sugar in water by reducing their consumption of dry food. Fasting glucose and weight gain did not diff between animal groups. However, random glucose, area under the curve in GTT, and relative weights of heart, liver, and abdominal fat were higher in experimental animals compared to controls. In addition, the area of the T-wave of the ECG as well as the TpTe / QT ratio in experimental animals were statistically greater than those in the control.

Conclusion. The data obtained confirm the development of moderate metabolic syndrome and may indicate the development of cardiac hypertrophy and / or slowing / desynchronization of cardiac muscle repolarization (increased duration and area of the ECG T-wave) in rats after 11–13 weeks of free access to sugar-sweetened (30 %) water.

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