Boldt, KevinJoumaa, VenusHerzog, WalterMacDonald, Graham2020-05-112020-05-112020-03-05Boldt, K., MacDonald, G. Z., Joumaa, V., & Herzog, W. (2020). Mechanical Adaptations of Skinned Cardiac Muscle in Response to Dietary-Induced Obesity During Adolescence in Rats. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2019-0726http://hdl.handle.net/1880/112017https://doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/43926Childhood obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease during adulthood, independent of adulthood behaviours. Therefore, it seems that childhood obesity leads to partly irreversible decrements in cardiac function. Little is known about how obesity during maturation affects the mechanical properties of the heart. The purpose of this study was to evaluate contractile properties in developing hearts from animals with dietary-induced obesity (high-fat high-sucrose diet (HFHS)). We hypothesized that obesity induced during adolescence results in decrements in cardiac contractile function. Three-week old rats (n=16) were randomized into control (chow) or dietary-induced obesity (HFHS) groups. Following 14 weeks on the diet, skinned cardiac trabeculae fibre bundle testing was performed to evaluate active and passive force, maximum shortening velocity, and calcium sensitivity. Rats in the HFHS group had significantly larger body mass and total body fat percentage. There were no differences in maximal active or passive properties of hearts between groups. Hearts from HFHS group rats had significantly slower maximum shortening and lower calcium sensitivity than controls. Decreased shortening velocity and calcium sensitivity in hearts of obese animals may constitute increased risk of cardiac disease in adulthood. Novelty Bullets • Cardiac muscle from animals exposed to an obesogenic diet during development had lower shortening velocity and calcium sensitivity than those from animals fed a chow diet. • These alterations in mechanical function may be a mechanism for the increased risk of cardiac disease observed in adulthood.Unless otherwise indicated, this material is protected by copyright and has been made available with authorization from the copyright owner. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.journal articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2019-0726