Table 1.

Summary of pre-clinical studies into basic mechanisms of RIHD.

Main Observation or Study Outcome	References
Reduced myocardial capillary density, focal loss of endothelial alkaline phosphatase, and increased expression of von Willebrand factor indicate vascular injury in rat models of RIHD.	[14, 32–35]
Coronary artery disease has been observed after localized heart irradiation in hypertensive rats or rats on a high-fat diet.	[21, 22]
Increased myocardial levels of TGF-β1, Ang II, and aldosterone have been found after localized heart irradiation in rats.	[36–39]
ACE inhibitor captopril reduced myocardial fibrosis and prevented left ventricular capillary density loss after localized heart irradiation in rats.	[40]
Mast cell-deficient rats showed reduced radiation-induced myocardial inflammation and degeneration, but increased myocardial fibrosis when compared to mast cell-competent rats.	[41]