Changes in Cardiac Isomyosin Composition in an Iron Loading Anemia Rat Model

A rat model of iron loading anemia resulting in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was used to assess the composition of cardiac isomyosin by ELISAs and immunohistochemistry relative to the chronological age of these animals and their normal controls. Cardiac myosin extracts of homozygous Belgrade (b/b) rats that develop hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were compared to those from the heterozygous (b/+) control rats at 4.5 and 11.5 weeks of age. Confirmation of the ELISA data in the increase in β-isomyosin in 11.5 weeks old b/b rat hearts were obtained by immunohistochemical staining relative to 4.5 weeks old b/b hearts and control 4.5 and 11.5 weeks old b/+ hearts. Quantitation and immunohistochemical demonstration of an increase in the β-isomyosin isoform can be confirmed in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in iron loading anemia model.