This study was designed to examine the effects of the antioxidant resveratrol on 
cardiac structure and function in pressure overload (PO)-induced cardiac 
hypertrophy. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to sham operation and the 
aortic banding procedure. A subgroup of sham control and aortic-banded rats were 
treated with resveratrol for 2 wk after surgery. Echocardiographic analysis of 
cardiac structure and function along with Western blot analysis of endothelial 
nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and redox 
factor-1 (ref-1) were performed in all groups after 4 wk of surgery. Banded rats 
showed significantly increased left ventricle-to-body weight ratio. 
Echocardiographic analysis showed that the interventricular septal wall 
thickness and left ventricular posterior wall thickness at systole and diastole 
were significantly increased in banded rats. Also, a significant increase in 
isovolumic relaxation time was observed in banded rats. Measured eNOS, iNOS, and 
ref-1 protein levels were significantly reduced in banded rats. Resveratrol 
treatment prevented the above changes in cardiac structure, function, and 
protein expression in banded rats. Aortic banding after 4 wk resulted in 
concentric remodeling and impaired contractile function due to PO on the heart. 
The 2-wk treatment with resveratrol was found to abolish PO-induced cardiac 
hypertrophy. Resveratrol may therefore be beneficial against PO-induced cardiac 
hypertrophy found in clinical settings of hypertension and aortic valve 
stenosis.