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Study · Animal study (in vivo) · mouse · 2018

11 results

Hexarelin treatment preserves myocardial function and reduces cardiac fibrosis in a mouse model of acute myocardial infarction.

McDonald H, Peart J, Kurniawan N, Galloway G, Royce S, Samuel CS, Chen C

Physiological reports1 May 2018Cited by 11 (Europe PMC)

PMID29756411 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC5949285 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.14814/phy2.13699 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-29756411
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Summary

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Growth hormone secretagogues (GHS) have been shown to improve cardiac function in models of IHD. This study determined whether hexarelin (HEX), a synthetic GHS, preserves cardiac function and morphology in a mouse model of myocardial infarction (MI). MI was induced by ligation of the left descending coronary artery in C57BL/6J mice followed by vehicle (VEH; n = 10) or HEX (0.3 mg/kg/day; n = 11) administration for 21 days. MI-injured and sham mice (treated with VEH; n = 6 or HEX; n = 5) underwent magnetic resonance imaging for measurement of left ventricular (LV) function, mass and infarct size at 24 h and 14 days post-MI. MI-HEX mice displayed a significant improvement (P < 0.05) in LV function compared with MI-VEH mice after 14 days treatment. A significant decrease in LV mass, interstitial collagen and collagen concentration was demonstrated with chronic HEX treatment (for 21 days), accompanied by a decrease in TGF-β1 expression, myofibroblast differentiation and an increase in collagen-degrading MMP-13 expression levels. Furthermore, heart rate variability analysis demonstrated that HEX treatment shifted the balance of autonomic nervous activity toward a parasympathetic predominance and sympathetic downregulation. This was combined with a HEX-dependent decrease in troponin-I, IL-1β and TNF-α levels suggestive of amelioration of cardiomyocyte injury. These results demonstrate that GHS may preserve ventricular function, reduce inflammation and favorably remodel the process of fibrotic healing in a mouse model of MI and hold the potential for translational application to patients suffering from MI.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study11

11 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

  1. 01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In mice with myocardial infarction, hexarelin improved left ventricular function compared with vehicle after 14 days of treatment.

    In plain wordsIn mice with a heart attack, hexarelin improved heart pumping function compared with vehicle after 14 days.

    Peptide
    Hexarelin
    Outcome
    IncreaseLeft ventricular function at 14 days
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Mouse model of myocardial infarction (coronary artery ligation)
    Comparator
    Vehicle
    Outcome group
    Heart function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    0.3 mg/kg/day · 14 daysAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    MI-HEX mice displayed a significant improvement (P < 0.05) in LV function compared with MI-VEH mice after 14 days treatment.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    MI was induced by ligation of the left descending coronary artery in C57BL/6J mice followed by vehicle (VEH; n = 10) or HEX (0.3 mg/kg/day; n = 11) administration for 21 days.
  2. 02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In mice with myocardial infarction, 21 days of hexarelin decreased left ventricular mass.

    In plain wordsIn mice with a heart attack, 21 days of hexarelin lowered the mass of the left heart chamber.

    Peptide
    Hexarelin
    Outcome
    DecreaseLeft ventricular mass
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Mouse model of myocardial infarction (coronary artery ligation)
    Comparator
    Vehicle
    Outcome group
    Heart function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    0.3 mg/kg/day · 21 daysAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    A significant decrease in LV mass, interstitial collagen and collagen concentration was demonstrated with chronic HEX treatment (for 21 days), accompanied by a decrease in TGF-β1 expression, myofibroblast differentiation and an increase in collagen-degrading MMP-13 expression levels.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    MI was induced by ligation of the left descending coronary artery in C57BL/6J mice followed by vehicle (VEH; n = 10) or HEX (0.3 mg/kg/day; n = 11) administration for 21 days.
  3. 03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In mice with myocardial infarction, 21 days of hexarelin decreased interstitial collagen in the heart.

    In plain wordsIn mice with a heart attack, 21 days of hexarelin lowered scar-like collagen between heart cells.

    Peptide
    Hexarelin
    Outcome
    DecreaseInterstitial collagen
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Mouse model of myocardial infarction (coronary artery ligation)
    Comparator
    Vehicle
    Outcome group
    Heart function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    0.3 mg/kg/day · 21 daysAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    A significant decrease in LV mass, interstitial collagen and collagen concentration was demonstrated with chronic HEX treatment (for 21 days), accompanied by a decrease in TGF-β1 expression, myofibroblast differentiation and an increase in collagen-degrading MMP-13 expression levels.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    MI was induced by ligation of the left descending coronary artery in C57BL/6J mice followed by vehicle (VEH; n = 10) or HEX (0.3 mg/kg/day; n = 11) administration for 21 days.
  4. 04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In mice with myocardial infarction, 21 days of hexarelin decreased collagen concentration in the heart.

    In plain wordsIn mice with a heart attack, 21 days of hexarelin lowered the amount of collagen in heart tissue.

    Peptide
    Hexarelin
    Outcome
    DecreaseCollagen concentration
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Mouse model of myocardial infarction (coronary artery ligation)
    Comparator
    Vehicle
    Outcome group
    Heart function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    0.3 mg/kg/day · 21 daysAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    A significant decrease in LV mass, interstitial collagen and collagen concentration was demonstrated with chronic HEX treatment (for 21 days), accompanied by a decrease in TGF-β1 expression, myofibroblast differentiation and an increase in collagen-degrading MMP-13 expression levels.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    MI was induced by ligation of the left descending coronary artery in C57BL/6J mice followed by vehicle (VEH; n = 10) or HEX (0.3 mg/kg/day; n = 11) administration for 21 days.
  5. 05AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In mice with myocardial infarction, hexarelin decreased TGF-β1 expression in the heart.

    In plain wordsIn mice with a heart attack, hexarelin lowered the heart level of the fibrosis signal TGF-β1.

    Peptide
    Hexarelin
    Outcome
    DecreaseTGF-β1 expression
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Mouse model of myocardial infarction (coronary artery ligation)
    Comparator
    Vehicle
    Outcome group
    Inflammation markers · Immune and inflammation
    Studied dose
    0.3 mg/kg/day · 21 daysAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    A significant decrease in LV mass, interstitial collagen and collagen concentration was demonstrated with chronic HEX treatment (for 21 days), accompanied by a decrease in TGF-β1 expression, myofibroblast differentiation and an increase in collagen-degrading MMP-13 expression levels.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    MI was induced by ligation of the left descending coronary artery in C57BL/6J mice followed by vehicle (VEH; n = 10) or HEX (0.3 mg/kg/day; n = 11) administration for 21 days.
  6. 06AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In mice with myocardial infarction, hexarelin decreased myofibroblast differentiation.

    In plain wordsIn mice with a heart attack, hexarelin reduced the change of heart cells into scar-forming myofibroblasts.

    Peptide
    Hexarelin
    Outcome
    DecreaseMyofibroblast differentiation
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Mouse model of myocardial infarction (coronary artery ligation)
    Comparator
    Vehicle
    Outcome group
    Heart function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    0.3 mg/kg/day · 21 daysAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    A significant decrease in LV mass, interstitial collagen and collagen concentration was demonstrated with chronic HEX treatment (for 21 days), accompanied by a decrease in TGF-β1 expression, myofibroblast differentiation and an increase in collagen-degrading MMP-13 expression levels.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    MI was induced by ligation of the left descending coronary artery in C57BL/6J mice followed by vehicle (VEH; n = 10) or HEX (0.3 mg/kg/day; n = 11) administration for 21 days.
  7. 07AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In mice with myocardial infarction, hexarelin increased expression of the collagen-degrading enzyme MMP-13.

    In plain wordsIn mice with a heart attack, hexarelin raised the level of MMP-13, an enzyme that breaks down collagen.

    Peptide
    Hexarelin
    Outcome
    IncreaseMMP-13 expression
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Mouse model of myocardial infarction (coronary artery ligation)
    Comparator
    Vehicle
    Outcome group
    Heart function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    0.3 mg/kg/day · 21 daysAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    A significant decrease in LV mass, interstitial collagen and collagen concentration was demonstrated with chronic HEX treatment (for 21 days), accompanied by a decrease in TGF-β1 expression, myofibroblast differentiation and an increase in collagen-degrading MMP-13 expression levels.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    MI was induced by ligation of the left descending coronary artery in C57BL/6J mice followed by vehicle (VEH; n = 10) or HEX (0.3 mg/kg/day; n = 11) administration for 21 days.
  8. 08AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In mice with myocardial infarction, hexarelin shifted autonomic activity toward parasympathetic predominance and sympathetic downregulation.

    In plain wordsIn mice with a heart attack, hexarelin shifted nerve control of the heart toward the calming parasympathetic side.

    Peptide
    Hexarelin
    Outcome
    MixedAutonomic nervous balance on heart rate variability
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Mouse model of myocardial infarction (coronary artery ligation)
    Comparator
    Vehicle
    Outcome group
    Heart function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    0.3 mg/kg/day · 21 daysAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Furthermore, heart rate variability analysis demonstrated that HEX treatment shifted the balance of autonomic nervous activity toward a parasympathetic predominance and sympathetic downregulation.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    MI was induced by ligation of the left descending coronary artery in C57BL/6J mice followed by vehicle (VEH; n = 10) or HEX (0.3 mg/kg/day; n = 11) administration for 21 days.
  9. 09AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In mice with myocardial infarction, hexarelin decreased troponin-I levels.

    In plain wordsIn mice with a heart attack, hexarelin lowered troponin-I, a marker of heart cell injury.

    Peptide
    Hexarelin
    Outcome
    DecreaseTroponin-I level
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Mouse model of myocardial infarction (coronary artery ligation)
    Comparator
    Vehicle
    Outcome group
    Heart function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    0.3 mg/kg/day · 21 daysAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    This was combined with a HEX-dependent decrease in troponin-I, IL-1β and TNF-α levels suggestive of amelioration of cardiomyocyte injury.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    MI was induced by ligation of the left descending coronary artery in C57BL/6J mice followed by vehicle (VEH; n = 10) or HEX (0.3 mg/kg/day; n = 11) administration for 21 days.
  10. 10AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In mice with myocardial infarction, hexarelin decreased IL-1β levels.

    In plain wordsIn mice with a heart attack, hexarelin lowered IL-1β, an inflammation signal.

    Peptide
    Hexarelin
    Outcome
    DecreaseIL-1β level
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Mouse model of myocardial infarction (coronary artery ligation)
    Comparator
    Vehicle
    Outcome group
    Inflammation markers · Immune and inflammation
    Studied dose
    0.3 mg/kg/day · 21 daysAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    This was combined with a HEX-dependent decrease in troponin-I, IL-1β and TNF-α levels suggestive of amelioration of cardiomyocyte injury.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    MI was induced by ligation of the left descending coronary artery in C57BL/6J mice followed by vehicle (VEH; n = 10) or HEX (0.3 mg/kg/day; n = 11) administration for 21 days.
  11. 11AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In mice with myocardial infarction, hexarelin decreased TNF-α levels.

    In plain wordsIn mice with a heart attack, hexarelin lowered TNF-α, an inflammation signal.

    Peptide
    Hexarelin
    Outcome
    DecreaseTNF-α level
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Mouse model of myocardial infarction (coronary artery ligation)
    Comparator
    Vehicle
    Outcome group
    Inflammation markers · Immune and inflammation
    Studied dose
    0.3 mg/kg/day · 21 daysAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    This was combined with a HEX-dependent decrease in troponin-I, IL-1β and TNF-α levels suggestive of amelioration of cardiomyocyte injury.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    MI was induced by ligation of the left descending coronary artery in C57BL/6J mice followed by vehicle (VEH; n = 10) or HEX (0.3 mg/kg/day; n = 11) administration for 21 days.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    13 Oct 2026, 21:44 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    13 Oct 2026, 16:31 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

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