Omega 3 dietary lipids & primary cardioprotection

Funding Activity

Website
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/400039

Funding Status
Closed

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Funded Activity Summary

Clinical trials and experimental investigations have demonstrated that a diet rich in fish oil, containing high levels of omega 3 fatty acids, provides protection against arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death associated with heart failure. Surprisingly little is known about how these dietary omega 3 lipids alter the electrical and mechanical function of cardiac muscle cells when incorporated into the membrane of these cells. The goal of this study is to examine how experimental omega 3 diet treatment can modify the heart muscle cell structure and function. In particular we will determine which cellular mechanisms may be important in conferring selective benefit of dietary intervention on pre-failing heart function. For this study we will use mice which exhibit signs of heart failure induced by hormone overproduction (angiotensin II) and by elevation of blood pressure (by surgical constriction). Mice will be fed omega-3 and omega-6 diets and experiments to investigate cardiac muscle cell structure and function will be carried out using a variety of electrical recording, microscopic and molecular biology techniques. Diet-induced changes in the capacity of the heart cells to regulate calcium will be investigated using cells loaded with fluroescent indicators. Single cell electrical recording techniques (patch clamp) will also be used in combination with ECG measurement to evaluate how arrhythmic activity arising from electrically and mechanically unstable cells can be suppressed by omega-3 diet intervention. Finally we will take the first step towards validating the rodent experimental findings in a clinical setting with measurements of calcium transporters and channel expression in human specimens from cardiac surgery patients.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2006

End Date: 01-01-2008

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $283,767.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Cardiology (incl. Cardiovascular Diseases)

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

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Other Keywords

cardiac excitation-contraction coupling | cardiac failure | cardiomyocyte Ca handling | cardiovascular risk | dietary fatty acids | genetic disease | heart | ion channels | sudden cardiac death

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