PATHOGENESIS OF CARDIAC-HYPERTROPHY IN IRON-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA - THE ROLE OF NORADRENALINE

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 63  (3) , 269-277
Abstract
The effect of long-term administration of reserpine, an adrenergic blocking agent, on cardiac hypertrophy in animals with severe Fe deficiency anemia was examined. This condition was induced by feeding rats an Fe-deficient diet for 30 days from the time of weaning. Anemia was indicated by lowering of blood Hb levels. Reserpine was administered i.p. (0.15 mg/kg body wt) every day during the epxeriment. Marked cardiac hypertrophy, as indicated by increased heart weight and increased size of cardiac muscle cells, was evidenced in Fe-deficient rats, while the heart weights and myocardial cell size of drug-treated anemic rats were in the normal range. The successful prevention of cardiac hypertrophy in anemic Fe-deficient rats by reserpine administration supports the hypothesis that noradrenaline [norepinephrine] plays a key role in the cardiac-hypertrophy process in Fe-deficiency anemia.