Effects of the cardiac myosin activator Omecamtiv-mecarbil on severe chronic aortic regurgitation in Wistar rats

BACKGROUND: Aortic regurgitation (AR) is a valvular disease that can lead to systolic heart failure. Treatment options besides cardiac surgery are limited and consequently severe AR is associated with higher mortality and morbidity when not operated. In this investigation, we examined the effects of a novel cardiac myosin activator, Omecamtiv-mecarbil (OM), in rats with chronic severe AR. METHODS: AR was created by retrograde puncture of the aortic valve leaflets in 20 adults Wistar rats. 12 animals survived the acute AR phase and were randomized 2 months thereafter into OM (n = 7) or placebo groups (n = 5). Two rats underwent a sham operation and served as controls. Equal volumes of OM or placebo (NaCl 0.9%) were perfused in the femoral vein by continuous infusion (1.2 mg/kg/hour) during 30 min. Doppler-echocardiography was performed before and at the end of the infusion periods. RESULTS: OM increased indices of global cardiac function (cardiac output, stroke volume), and increased systolic performance (fractional shortening, ejection fraction, left ventricular end systolic diameter) (all p < 0.05). These effects concurred with decreases in indices of LV preload (left atrial size, left ventricular end diastolic diameter) as well in the aortic pre-ejection period / left ventricular ejection time ratio (all p < 0.05). The severity score of the regurgitant AR jet did not change. Placebo infusion did not affect these parameters. CONCLUSION: The cardiac myosin activator OM exerts favorable hemodynamic effects in rats with experimental chronic AR.