Background: Mitochondrial coupling factor 6 (CF6) is a constriction factor in cardiac hypertrophy, whose mechanisms are not fully understood.
Materials and methods: Here, we established cardiac hypertrophy models for feeding spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) aged 10, 20, and 30 weeks. Hemodynamic monitoring was performed during the feeding program to ensure the success of the model.
Results: Cardiac hypertrophy, but not fibrosis, occurred in the 10-, 20-, and 30-week-old SHRs. No significant changes in CF6 gene expression were detected by RT-PCR in any of the SHR groups as compared with the control groups (p > 0.05). ELISA assessment showed that the CF6 protein level in the 20- and 30-week-old SHRs with cardiac hypertrophy was significantly increased (vs. control, p < 0.05).
Conclusion: CF6 protein was upregulated in cardiac hypertrophy induced by hypertension; further mechanisms involved in this process should be investigated.