Abstract P758: Ischemic Stroke Induced Cardiac Dysfunction in Aged Mice

Introduction: Acute ischemic stroke patients with cardiac complications have increased in-hospital mortality. Most of these cardiac complications have been attributed to pre-existing cardiac comorbidities. Aging is a known risk factor for both stroke and myocardial injury. It is being increasingly recognized that ischemic injury to the brain in itself may lead to cardiac injury. However, the post stroke brain- heart interaction is not well defined in the aged. This study was designed to fill this gap in our knowledge. Methods: C57BL6/J young (3 months) and aged (18 months) male mice were subjected to 60 minutes of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Mice had electrocardiogram (EKG, using rodent surgical monitor) and Echocardiogram (using vevo 3100 imaging system) pre-stroke, post stroke day 3, 7, and 14. All mice were sacrificed at day 14. EKG and ECHO results were analyzed using generalized estimated equation method with post hoc group comparison test at each time point, Bonferroni correction. Results: There was a significant decrease in cardiac output after stroke in aged but not young mice at three days post stroke, as compared to baseline (young, baseline:18.5±1.6ml/min vs day 3:16.6±5.16 ml/min, n=8; aged, baseline 25.4±6.8 6 ml/min vs. day 3, 16.8±6.8 n=6, p=0.0038). The cardiac output normalized to baseline in young but remained significantly low in aged mice even at day 14. Interestingly, the Left ventricular (LV) mass decreased significantly after stroke in aged mice at day 3, 118.4±23.2 mg as compared to baseline, 160.7±22.9 mg. This remained significantly lower than baseline at post stroke day seven, 124.6±32.9 mg and fourteen, 129.5±37.2 mg, p0.05. Conclusion: Our data indicates that cardiac output decreases after stroke in aged mice. Interestingly, there is a significant decrease in left ventricular mass and ventricular wall thickness in aged mice after MCAO, indicating cardiac atrophy. We speculate this may be secondary to cardiac ischemia caused by stroke. Ongoing work in our laboratory is aimed at examining the histological changes in cardiomyocytes after MCAO.