Hypervitaminosis D and Postinfarction Remodeling of the Left Ventricle in Rats

   Introduction. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with many chronic diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases. It has been associated with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis and the risk of myocardial infarction (MI). There is no consensus on the role of hypervitaminosis D in the development and progression of coronary heart disease and heart failure. In this regard, it is important to study echocardiographic and morphological changes in the myocardium in rats with hypervitaminosis D, who underwent MI.

   Aim. To study echocardiographic and morphological parameters of postinfarction myocardial remodeling in rats with hypervitaminosis D.

   Materials and methods. The animals were divided into 3 groups: Group 1 (comparison group), Group 2 (those who received 300 IU of cholecalciferol per os), and Group 3 (those who received 1,500 IU of cholecalciferol for 21 days after MI modeling). Echocardiography was performed using a MyLabTouchSL 3116 ultrasound machine. Histological examination determined the scar size and the severity of myocardial remodeling.

   Results. Serum 25(OH)D concentration in rats from group 1 (n = 5) was 57.05 ± 1.37 nmol/l, in group 2 (n = 5) – 150.96 ± 4.93 nmol/l, in group 3 (n = 5) exceeded the laboratory limits (> 300 nmol/l) (p = 0.001 for all groups). Cholecalciferol therapy at a dosage of 300 IU was accompanied by a decrease in heart rate (HR) in group 2 compared to group 1 (p = 0.02). HR in group 3 was higher compared to groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.05). The end-diastolic size (EDS) and end-systolic size (ESS) were larger, while the shortening fraction (SF) and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were less in animals from group 3 than in groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.05). Rats from groups 1 and 3 had higher ESD and ESS and lower SF and LVEF compared to group 2 (p < 0.05). The largest scar area and length was in group 3 than in the other groups (p < 0.05). The hypertrophy index and dilation indices were higher, and the scar wall thickness was lower in group 3 than in group 2 (p < 0.05).

   Conclusions. Post-infarction administration of vitamin D at a dosage of 1,500 IU for 21 days worsened echocardiographic and morphometric parameters, whereas the dosage of 300 IU improved them.

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