Study of electrocardiogram parameters in rats in the sucrose model of metabolic syndrome

Background. Existing data regarding electrocardiographic changes in rat models of metabolic syndrome are incomplete and contradictory. The aim. Study of electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters in rats in the sucrose model of metabolic syndrome. Ma t erials and methods. Experiments were performed on male Wistar rats. During the entire experiment (11–13 weeks), the animals had free access to dry food, regular and sugar-sweetened (30 %) drinking water. A glucose tolerance test (GTT), ECG, random glucose, insulin, cholesterol and organ weight measurements were also performed. R esults. Experimental animals pr eferr ed t o drink sw eet ened wat er but almost complet e ly compensated for the exc ess calories obtained fr om sugar in wat er by r educing their consumption of dry food . Fasting glucose and weight gain did not di ff b et ween animal groups . Howev er, r andom glucose , area under the curv e in GTT , and r elativ e weights of hear t, liv er, and abdominal f at w ere higher in experimental animals compared t o con tr ols . In addition, the area of the T -wav e of the ECG as well as the T p Te / QT ratio in experimental animals were statistically greater than those in the control. Conclusion. The data obtained confirm the development of moderate metabolic syndrome and may indicate the development of cardiac hypertrophy and / or slowing / desynchronization of cardiac muscle repolarization (increased duration and area of the ECG T-wave) in rats after 11–13 weeks of free access to sugar-sweetened (30 %) water.