International journal of cardiology
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Int. J. Cardiol.
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Stress-induced cardiomyopathy (SIC), also known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is an acute cardiac syndrome with substantial morbidity and mortality. The unique hallmark of SIC is extensive ventricular akinesia involving apical segments with preserved function in basal segments. Adrenergic overstimulation plays an important role in initiating SIC but the pathophysiological pathways and receptors involved are unknown. ⋯ We provide a novel rat model of SIC that supports the hypothesis of circulating catecholamines as initiators of SIC. We propose that the β-adrenoreceptor pathway is important in the setting of severe catecholamine overstimulation and that perturbations of cardiac metabolism occur in SIC.