Myocardial Stiffness Is Attributed to Alterations in Cross-Linked Collagen Rather Than Total Collagen or Phenotypes in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Abstract

An association between alterations in LVED k and collagen solubility but not between changes in LVED k and total collagen or phenotype ratios after antihypertensive therapy in SHRs suggests that myocardial stiffness in hypertension is the consequence of an enhanced myocardial collagen cross-linking rather than of an increase in total collagen or type I phenotype concentrations.