Angiotensin II Overstimulation Leads to an Increased Susceptibility to Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Higher Mortality in Female Mice

Heart failure (HF) is associated with high mortality and affects men and women differently. The underlying mechanisms for these sex-related differences remain largely unexplored. Accordingly, using mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of the angiotensin II (ANGII) type 1 receptor (AT1R), we explored male-female differences in the manifestations of hypertrophy and HF. AT1R mice of both sexes feature electrical and Ca(2+) handling alterations, systolic dysfunction, hypertrophy and develop HF. However, females had much higher mortality (21.0%) rate than males (5.5%). In females, AT1R stimulation leads to more pronounced eccentric hypertrophy (larger increase in LV mass/body weight ratio [+31%], in cell length [+27%], in LV internal end-diastolic [LVIDd, +34%] and systolic [LVIDs, +67%] diameter) and dilation (larger decrease in LV posterior wall thickness, +17%) than males. In addition, in female AT1R mice the cytosolic Ca(2+) extrusion mechanisms were more severely compromised and were associated with a specific increased in Ca(2+) sparks (by 187%) and evidence of SR Ca(2+) leak. Altogether, these results suggest that female AT1R mice have more severe eccentric hypertrophy, dysfunction and compromised Ca(2+) dynamics. These findings indicate that females are more susceptible to the adverse effects of AT1R stimulation than males favouring the development of HF and increased mortality.