Abstract:
This study employs an image-based biomechanical analysis to investigate the progression of cardiac dysfunction in a spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) model. By utilizing advanced microPET imaging techniques coupled with a hyperelastic finite element warping method, the researchers quantitatively analyzed left ventricular (LV) myocardial strain to differentiate diastolic and systolic dysfunction throughout the lifespan of SHR animals. The key innovation of this work lies in separately assessing myocardial deformation relative to a dynamically determined in-vivo reference configuration, thus distinctly characterizing the independent changes in diastolic and systolic function over time. The study reveals that diastolic dysfunction precedes significant systolic impairment and is closely associated with progressive myocardial hypertrophy. Results indicated region-specific variations, emphasizing spatial heterogeneity in strain responses, particularly with more pronounced systolic dysfunction observed in specific regions of the LV as the disease progressed. This work highlights the utility of biomechanical strain analysis in elucidating the temporal and regional progression of cardiac dysfunction in hypertension, offering critical insights for targeted clinical interventions and therapeutic strategies.
