Table 1.

Echocardiographic parameters in Dahl/Rapp salt-sensitive rats

Variable	Dahl/Rapp on high-salt diet	Dahl/Rapp on high-salt diet+Levo 0.3	Dahl/Rapp on high-salt diet+Levo 3	Dahl/Rapp on low-salt diet	ANOVA P-value
IVS (d), mm	2.54±0.04	2.20±0.06*	2.26±0.10*	1.92±0.08*	<0.001
LVD (d), mm	7.42±0.08	6.86±0.14* #¤	7.67±0.14	8.21±0.11*	<0.001
LVPW (d), mm	2.45±0.04	2.29±0.09#	2.13±0.06*	1.88±0.08*	<0.001
EF, %	83.0±0.6	92.7±0.7*#	95.1±0.5*#	87.2±0.8*	<0.001
FS, %	50.9±0.8	68.0±1.7*#	73.2±1.2*#	56.9±1.2	<0.001

Abbreviations: EF, ejection fraction; IVS, interventricular septum; LVD, left ventricle diastolic; LVPW, left ventricle posterior wall.

Four experimental groups of animals were used: Dahl/Rapp rats on high-salt diet with and without levosimendan (Levo, 0.3 or 3 mg kg⁻¹ via drinking fluid for 7 weeks) and Dahl/Rapp controls receiving low-salt diet. Data shown are means±s.e.m., n=6–12 in each group.

^*P<0.05 compared to Dahl/Rapp rats on high-salt diet

^#P<0.05 compared to Dahl/Rapp rats on low-salt diet

^¤P<0.05 compared to Dahl/Rapp rats on high-salt diet+Levo 3.