Greater Cardiac Adiposity is Associated With Diastolic Dysfunction and Cardiomyocyte Lipid Accumulation in Rodents

Diastolic dysfunction is a primary component of cardiac demise leading to death. Obesity is an independent risk factor for the development of diastolic dysfunction and is associated with marked pericardial adipose tissue accumulation. A clinical link between cardiac adiposity and diastolic dysfunction has been described, though the underlying cellular mechanisms are unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the mechanistic relationship between cardiac adiposity and diastolic dysfunction in mice and rats.