Cardiac MR detects impaired myocardial perfusion reserve and left-ventricular hypertrophy in C57Bl/6 mice fed a high-fat diet

Background Ischemic heart disease is a major cause of mortality in the western world. Reduced myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) is an independent predictor of cardiac mortality in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). An emerging concept is that impaired MPR can occur in the absence of obstructive CAD, especially in patient populations of women, diabetics and patients with the metabolic syndrome, where it is also predictive of adverse events. Mouse models can elucidate molecular mechanisms that underlie cardiovascular disease. We hypothesized that mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) recapitulate the clinical scenario of impaired MPR without obstructive CAD in diabetic patients.