Hemodynamic alterations in hypertensive obese rabbits.

There is little information on changes in overall and regional hemodynamics in obesity-associated hypertension. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine alterations in overall and regional blood flows and resistances in adipose and nonadipose tissues in a new model of obesity-associated hypertension in rabbits. Sixteen female New Zealand White rabbits were fed either a maintenance or high-fat diet; after 8 to 12 weeks cardiac output and regional blood flows were measured with the use of radioactive microspheres. Obese rabbits (5.22 +/- 0.14 versus 3.66 +/- 0.04 kg) had higher blood pressure (113 +/- 3 versus 95 +/- 1 mm Hg), cardiac output (812 +/- 59 versus 593 +/- 47 mL/min), and heart rate (269 +/- 12 versus 219 +/- 9 beats per minute) and lower overall peripheral resistance (0.14 +/- 0.01 versus 0.17 +/- 0.01 mm Hg/[mL/min]) than lean rabbits. Compared with lean controls, obese rabbits had higher weights of the ventricles, kidneys, liver, ovaries, adrenals, diaphragm, and spleen. Absolute blood flows were greater in the ventricles, kidneys, lungs, and ovaries, but differences were minimized when flows were normalized for organ weight. Adipose tissue flow per gram weight was significantly lower and resistance higher in obese rabbits. However, calculated total adipose tissue flow was higher in obese rabbits (86 versus 45 mL/min). Absolute resistances were lower in the left ventricle, kidneys, and large intestine, but when resistances were indexed for organ weight, kidney resistance tended to be higher in obese rabbits. These results indicate that even short periods of obesity-associated hypertension result in marked overall and regional hemodynamic changes.