Pimobendan prevents cardiac dysfunction, mitigates cardiac mitochondrial dysfunction, and preserves myocyte ultrastructure in a rat model of mitral regurgitation

BACKGROUND: Pimobendan has been proven to delay the onset of congestive heart failure (CHF) in dogs with mitral regurgitation (MR); however, molecular underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate (1) the effects of pimobendan on cardiac function, cardiac mitochondrial quality and morphology, and cardiac ultrastructure in a rat model of chronic MR and (2) the direct effect of pimobendan on intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in cardiac cells. MR was surgically induced in 20 Sprague-Dawley rats, and sham procedures were performed on 10 rats. Eight weeks post-surgery, the MR rats were randomly divided into two groups: the MR group and the MR + pimobendan group. Pimobendan (0.15 mg/kg) was administered twice a day via oral gavage for 4 weeks, whereas the sham and MR groups received equivalent volumes of drinking water. Echocardiography was performed at baseline (8 weeks post-surgery) and at the end of the study (4 weeks after treatment). At the end of the study protocol, all rats were euthanized, and their hearts were immediately collected, weighed, and used for transmission electron microscopy and mitochondrial quality assessments. To evaluate the role of pimobendan on intracellular ROS production, preventive or scavenging properties were tested with H(2)O(2)-induced ROS generation in rat cardiac myoblasts (H9c2). RESULTS: Pimobendan preserved cardiac functions and structure in MR rats. In addition, pimobendan significantly improved mitochondrial quality by attenuating ROS production and depolarization (P < 0.05). The cardiac ultrastructure and mitochondrial morphology were significantly preserved in the MR + pimobendan group. In addition, pimobendan appeared to play as a ROS scavenger, but not as a ROS preventer, in H(2)O(2)-induced ROS production in H9c2 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Pimobendan demonstrated cardioprotective effects on cardiac function and ultrastructure by preserving mitochondrial quality and acted as an ROS scavenger in a rat model of MR. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12917-023-03693-2.