跑步训练诱导小鼠生理性心脏肥厚模型

目的用长期跑步训练诱导小鼠的生理性心脏肥厚模型,与主动脉缩窄手术诱导的病理性心脏肥厚模型进行比较。方法 8周龄野生型雄性C57BL/6小鼠分为跑步运动组,正常对照组,手术刺激组和假手术组。运动组跑步训练40d,手术刺激组行主动脉缩窄手术2周,从组织形态学、超声心动图、分子标志物表达等方面对模型进行全面评估。结果运动训练组小鼠心脏体重比与正常对照组相比增加27.2%(P<0.05),左心室体重比增加25.8%(P<0.01),心脏显著肥厚。超声心动图显示,与各自的对照组相比,运动组和手术组小鼠模型的左心室后壁厚度均显著增加(P<0.05),但运动组小鼠的相对室壁厚度无明显变化,而手术组小鼠相对室壁厚度显著增加50%(P<0.05),提示两种不同的心脏肥厚导致在心脏结构改变上差别显著。心脏肥厚分子标志物心房利钠肽和脑钠肽在手术组表达显著上调9.5倍和4.5倍,而在运动组下调为对照组的0.48倍和0.58倍,提示两种不同肥厚的分子机制差别迥异。结论长期跑步运动可以成功的诱导小鼠生理性心脏肥厚模型,其表型和分子机制与手术刺激的病理性肥厚差别显著。     

实验性心肌厚大鼠左室c—fos表达及卡托普利的作用

心肌肥厚时 ,心肌细胞作出适应性反应发生结构改建 ,这种重构与压力超负荷早期心肌细胞原癌基因表达过盛密切相关。本文应用大鼠腹主动脉缩窄模型结合血管紧张素转化酶抑制剂卡托普利 (Ｃａｐ) ,研究心肌肥厚早期ｃ ｆｏｓ表达及六周后血压、心功能及酶学指标的改变 ,以探讨Ｃａｐ抑制心肌肥厚的可能机制。1　材料与方法(1)动物模型复制　采用体重 (2 5 0± 2 0 )ｇ的健康、雄性ＳＤ大鼠 (由本校动物室提供 ) ,按腹主动脉缩窄法制备压力超负荷性心肌肥厚模型 ,使腹主动脉残留管腔直径为 0 7ｍｍ。(2 )动物分组　动物分成两部分 :第一部分 :…     

GATA结合蛋白4在心脏发育及心肌重塑中的作用

转录因子GATA结合蛋白4(GATA-binding protein 4, GATA-4)在心脏发育和心肌重塑过程中发挥重要的调控作用.GATA-4基因缺失可致胚胎死亡,而不同位点的错义突变将引起不同类型的先天性心脏发育畸形.GATA-4蛋白表达水平降低可导致心脏功能进行性下降.压力超负荷、缺氧、交感神经激活等各种心肌肥厚刺激因素均可显著影响GATA-4的DNA结合活性,进而通过调控心房利钠肽(ANP)、脑利钠肽(BNP)、B细胞淋巴瘤因子2(Bcl-2)、心肌锚定重复序列蛋白(CARP)等多种心肌重塑相关转录因子的表达参与心肌重塑过程.深入探讨GATA-4的转录调控机制,有望为心血管疾病的防治提供新的线索.本文扼要综述GATA-4在心脏发育及心肌重塑中的研究现状.     

辛伐他汀通过钙调神经磷酸酶通路抑制压力负荷性心肌肥大

目的:研究在压力负荷下辛伐他汀对钙调神经磷酸酶介导的心肌肥大的影响.方法:选用SD大鼠随机分为3组:假手术组(n=10)、单纯模型组(n=10)和辛伐他汀组(n=10).大鼠通过腹主动脉缩窄建立压力超负荷模型,8周后测定左室重量指数,B超检测左室形态结构,Westernblot检测心肌CaN蛋白表达,RT-PCR法检测心肌CaNmRNA水平.结果:①单纯模型组和辛伐他汀组心肌肥厚指数明显高于假手术组,辛伐他汀组心肌肥厚指数明显低于单纯模型组(P＜0.05).②单纯模型组和辛伐他汀组心肌CaN蛋白及CaNmRNS表达水平高于假手术组(P＜0.05),辛伐他汀组低于单纯模型组(P＜0.05).结论:辛伐他汀可能参与干预钙调神经磷酸酶介导的通路从而抑制心肌肥厚的形成.     

实验性心肌肥厚大鼠左室c-fos表达及卡托普利的作用

心肌肥厚时,心肌细胞作出适应性反应发生结构改建,这种重构与压力超负荷早期心肌细胞 原癌基因表达过盛密切相关。本文应用大鼠腹主动脉缩窄模型结合血管紧张素转化酶抑制剂 卡托普利(Cap),研究心肌肥厚早期c-fos表达及六周后血压、心功能及酶学指标的改变, 以探讨Cap抑制心肌肥厚的可能机制。 1　材料与方法 　　(1)动物模型复制　采用体重(250±20) g的健康、雄性SD大鼠(由本校动物室提供),按腹主 动脉缩窄法制备压力超负荷性心肌肥厚模型,使腹主动脉残留管腔直径为0.7 mm。 　　(2)动物分组　动物分成两部分：第一部分：大鼠19 只,其中4只,在腹主动脉缩窄前及缩 窄后1 h、3 h、12 h分别处死,留取心脏。另15只随机均分成手术组、伪手术组、Cap治疗 组(n=5)。复制心肌肥厚模型后3 h处死动物,留取心脏,提取总RNA,检测左室c-fos mRNA表达。第二部分,大鼠30 只,随机均分成手术组(LVH,n=10,腹主动脉缩窄后未 用Cap治疗),伪手术组(sham,n=10,行伪手术)及Cap治疗组［LVH+Cap,n=10,腹 主动脉缩窄后用Cap50 mg/(kg*d)治疗］。建立模型6周后,右颈总动脉插管,记录动脉血 压后,进一步插管入左室,测取并计算左室内压力最大上升、下降速率及等容舒张期左室压 力下降的时间常数(T值)。处死动物,留取心脏标本备用。 　　(3)左心室c-fos mRNA表达　取左室心肌组织50 mg,一步法抽提RNA。用地高辛随机引物法 标记的c-fos探针(华美生物试剂公司,cDNA片段,1.3kb)进行斑点杂交,IBAS图象分析仪 测定杂交信号的相对光密度(IOD)。 　　(4)心肌重量及质膜Na+-K+ATPase活性测定　称量左室重量(LVW)及体重(BW),计算LVW /BW。制备10%心肌匀浆,差速分离质膜及线粒体。通过检测反应液中ATP水解释放的无机磷 含量来确定酶活性。     

大鼠胸主动脉缩窄诱导心肌肥厚模型的建立

目的建立大鼠胸主动脉部分缩窄诱导心肌肥厚动物模型。方法雄性SD大鼠30只,随机分为两组：胸主动脉缩窄组20只和同期假手术组10只。在右无名动脉和左颈总动脉之间将主动脉结扎于8G针头上,随后将针头退出即可。术后10周,采用超声心动图检测心脏、观察心脏的大体剖面以及HE染色、测量心肌肥厚指数评价心肌肥厚的效果。结果术后10周,肉眼观：模型组心脏体积明显大于对照组。M型超声示：模型组较假手术组缩短分数下降,左室内径和室壁厚度明显增加。超声测量结果示：模型组与假手术组比较：室间隔厚度增加明显（2.527±0.269 vs.1.943±0.1）mm,（P〈0.01）;后壁厚度增加明显（2.492±0.242 vs.1.902±0.076）mm,（P〈0.01）;缩短分数略减小（49±7.681 vs.55.7±9.828）（P〉0.05）;左室舒张末期内径、左室收缩末期内径及射血分数均无明显变化。心脏肥厚指数明显增大（3.196±0.11 vs.1.785±0.099）,P〈0.01。结论胸主动脉缩窄可以导致大鼠心肌肥厚,为研究心室肥厚、心肌功能障碍以及心肌重构提供了一个很好的模型。     

心肌肥厚大鼠心肌Cx43的表达及法舒地尔的干预作用

目的：研究腹主动脉缩窄大鼠心肌缝隙连接蛋白Cx43的变化及法舒地尔的干预作用。方法：腹主动脉缩窄建立心肌肥厚大鼠模型,随机分假手术组,腹主动脉缩窄组、腹主动脉缩窄＋10mg／kg法舒地尔（ip,每天1次,8周）组、腹主动脉缩窄＋40mg／kg（ip,每天1次,8周）。病理切片观察心肌组织学变化;免疫组化法检测心肌Cx43蛋白表达。结果：模型组大鼠心肌细胞排列紊乱,肥大,间隙增宽,Cx43蛋白表达量明显低于正常组;Fas治疗后,死亡率下降,cx43蛋白表达量高于模型组,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。结论：Fas可能通过调高Cx43蛋白表达,治疗大鼠心肌肥厚。     

慢性肾缺血致心功能不全时大鼠心肌组织降钙素基因相关肽含量的变化

目的观察慢性肾缺血导致心功能不全时心肌组织降钙素基因相关肽（CGRP）含量变化,并分析变化的机制。方法将40只Wistar大鼠分为,狭窄对照组（n=15）和狭窄治疗组（n=15）,均采用两肾动脉之间腹主动脉缩窄术造成单侧慢性肾缺血。假手术组（n=10）仅分离腹主动脉。至术后16周狭窄治疗组给予阿魏酸钠40mg／kg腹腔内注射,狭窄对照组和假手术组均给予同等剂量生理盐水。治疗2周后,测定颈动脉压、左心功能,处死大鼠后测定心肌组织CGRP、ET-1和NO含量,分别测定心肌和脊髓背根神经节CGRP mRNA表达。结果狭窄对照组和狭窄治疗组心功能均下降,但狭窄治疗组心脏舒张功能优于狭窄对照组。狭窄对照组心肌内ET-1含量明显增加,CGRP含量明显下降。狭窄治疗组心肌内ET-1含量较对照组减少,CGRP含量略增高。各组心肌CGRP mRNA表达无明显差异。狭窄治疗组脊髓背根神经节CGRP mRNA表达较假手术组增加。结论大鼠慢性肾缺血导致心脏组织ET-1持续激活,CGRP、NO合成受损,与心功能下降密切相关。心功能不全时,脊髓背根神经节CGRP mRNA表汰代偿件增高,但心脏血管内皮绢织受损可能是心脏CGRP含量下降的主要因素。     

压力后负荷增高大鼠心肌肥厚向心力衰竭的转变

目的观察单纯腹主动脉缩窄造成的心肌肥厚能否转变成为心力衰竭。方法实验选用8周龄的Wistar大鼠,使用7-0号尼龙线对其肾上腹主动脉进行缩窄手术,造成后负荷性心肌肥厚模型(LVH,n=10),同时设置假手术组(Sham,n=10)和正常组(Con,n=10)作为对照。术后第20周和第38周使用超声多普勒和多导生理仪对大鼠血流动力学进行检测。解剖后取出心脏,计算心脏/体重比,并通过HE染色和天狼猩红染色观察心脏形态和纤维化程度。结果腹主动脉结扎后第20周,LVH组大鼠心室壁肥厚,舒张功能下降(E/Aratio:LVH组:1.0±0.25,Con组:1.6±0.12)。术后38周,左心室壁肥厚程度有所下降,但是心室腔扩大,心脏收缩和舒张功能明显下降(EF:LVH组:44.8±8.42,Con组:70.9±5.19;MaxdP/dt:LVH组:4916±1267.3,Con组:14225±932.1;MindP/dt:LVH组:-3246±1217.3,Con组:-12138±725.2)。腹主动脉缩窄术后的动物心脏重量明显增加(3.58±0.32vs.2.34±0.15),HE染色和天狼猩红染色显示LVH组大鼠在术后38周心脏纤维化明显。结论腹主动脉缩窄造成的后负荷增高动物模型首先出现向心性心肌肥厚,伴以舒张功能下降,进而收缩功能下降,发展为心力衰竭。     

利钠肽家族基因与心血管疾病研究新进展

利钠肽家族是一组由心肌细胞分泌的激素,主要包括A型、B型和C型利钠肽,具有相似的基因结构和生理学效应,可对心血管系统产生血压调节、抗心肌肥厚、抗心肌纤维化和抗心肌弛缓等保护作用。利钠肽受体A、B和C亦介导多种生理活性,调节心血管稳态。利钠肽受体A选择性结合A型、B型利钠肽。利钠肽受体B结合C型利钠肽。利钠肽受体C结合各型利钠肽,通过受体介导的内化和退化作用清除血液循环中利钠肽。对利钠肽家族及其受体基因单核甘酸多态性及功能研究显示,其与多种心血管疾病(房颤、高血压、心力衰竭等)的易感性相关。利钠肽家族及其受体基因缺失的转基因小鼠表现为心肌肥厚、心肌纤维化,与高血压、心肌病及心力衰竭的发生发展相关。各种导致心肌肥厚和缺血性损伤的刺激均参与利钠肽及其受体基因的表达调控。临床将脑钠肽作为左室功能障碍和心力衰竭失代偿的一个预测指标。静脉注射重组脑钠肽已经成为治疗急性心力衰竭的有效手段。深入了解利钠肽家族基因变异及其信号调控有助于探索心血管疾病的病理生理机制,为临床诊疗开辟新思路。     

Overexpression of microRNA-99a Attenuates Cardiac Hypertrophy

Pathological cardiomyocyte hypertrophy is associated with significantly increased risk of heart failure, one of the leading medical causes of mortality worldwide. MicroRNAs are known to be involved in pathological cardiac remodeling. However, whether miR-99a participates in the signaling cascade leading to cardiac hypertrophy is unknown. To evaluate the role of miR-99a in cardiac hypertrophy, we assessed the expression of miR-99a in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes induced by isoprenaline (ISO)/angiotensin-II (Ang II) and in mice model of cardiac hypertrophy induced by transverse aortic constriction (TAC). Expression of miR-99a was evaluated in these hypertrophic cells and hearts. We also found that miR-99a expression was highly correlated with cardiac function of mice with heart failure (8 weeks after TAC surgery). Overexpression of miR-99a attenuated cardiac hypertrophy in TAC mice and cellular hypertrophy in stimuli treated cardiomyocytes through down-regulation of expression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). These results indicate that miR-99a negatively regulates physiological hypertrophy through mTOR signaling pathway, which may provide a new therapeutic approach for pressure-overload heart failure.     

A novel compound,ferulic acid-bound resveratrol,induces the tumor suppressor gene p15 and inhibits the three-dimensional proliferation of colorectal cancer cells

This study aimed to investigate the effects and molecular mechanisms of ivabradine in preventing cardiac hypertrophy in an established transverse aortic constriction (TAC) mouse model. A total of 56 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into the following seven groups (8 mice per group): sham, TAC model, Iva-10 (10 mg/kg/day ivabradine), Iva-20 (20 mg/kg/day ivabradine), Iva-40 (40 mg/kg/day ivabradine), Iva-80 (80 mg/kg/day ivabradine), and Rap (rapamycin, a positive control). Echocardiography and left ventricular hemodynamics were performed. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), Masson’s trichome staining, and TUNEL assays were conducted to evaluate cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and apoptosis, respectively. Western blotting was performed to detect the expression of proteins related to the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/p70S6K pathway. Ivabradine could effectively improve left ventricular dysfunction and hypertrophy induced by TAC in a dose-independent manner. Moreover, no obvious change in heart rate (HR) was observed in the TAC and Rap groups, whereas a significant decrease in HR was found after ivabradine treatment (P?<?0.05). Cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and apoptosis induced by TAC were notably suppressed after either rapamycin or ivabradine treatment (P?<?0.05). Ivabradine and rapamycin also decreased the expression of PI3K/Akt and mTOR induced by TAC. Ivabradine improved cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis as well as reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/p70S6K pathway in TAC model mice.

     

心脏组织特异性表达 Neuregulin -2转基因小鼠的建立及心脏功能分析

目的：神经调节蛋白2（ neuregulin-2, NRG2）可促进神经系统发育,基因缺失表现早期生长延迟, NRG2在心脏中也有表达,但其在心脏发育尤其是病理刺激时对心脏结构及功能的影响尚未见报道。本文目的是建立心脏组织特异性表达NRG2转基因小鼠,分析其在正常及压力负荷刺激时对心脏结构及功能的影响。方法将人NRG2基因插入到心脏特异性启动子α-MHC下游,构建转基因表达载体,显微注射法建立NRG2转基因小鼠,PCR鉴定转基因小鼠基因型,western blot鉴定NRG2蛋白在心脏中的表达并筛选高表达的转基因品系,主动脉缩窄术（ transverse aortic constriction , TAC）制备压力负荷诱导的心肌肥厚小鼠模型。利用超声影像分析和病理学观察小鼠心脏结构和功能改变。结果建立了心脏组织特异性高表达NRG2转基因小鼠品系。与同窝阴性转基因小鼠相比,转基因小鼠左心室舒张末期后壁厚度（LVPWD）明显增加,3月龄时可达15．6％（P＜0．05）,经压力负荷刺激后,NRG2转基因手术小鼠心室壁增厚程度显著下降,心室腔增大,同时心肌排列紊乱程度和纤维化程度明显比NTG手术小鼠严重。结论在压力负荷下,转基因表达NRG2缩短了肥厚过程,同时加速了心衰进程。     

Compensated cardiac hypertrophy is characterised by a decline in palmitate oxidation

Cardiac hypertrophy is an independent risk factor in the development of heart failure. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying the transition from compensated hypertrophy to heart failure are incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in myocardial substrate utilisation and function in pressure-overload hypertrophy (using ¹³C NMR spectroscopy) in parallel with alterations in the expression pattern of genes involved in cardiac fatty acid and glucose uptake and oxidation. Left ventricular hypertrophy was induced surgically in Sprague–Dawley rats by inter-renal aortic constriction. Nine weeks later, hearts were perfused in the isovolumic mode with a physiological mixture of substrates including 5 mM 1-¹³C glucose, 1 mM 3-¹³C lactate, 0.1 mM U-¹³C pyruvate and 0.3 mM U-¹³C palmitate and cardiac function monitored simultaneously. Real-time PCR was used to determine mRNA levels of PPARα and PPARα-regulated metabolic enzymes. Results showed that at the stage of compensated hypertrophy, fatty acid oxidation (FAO) and expression of genes involved in FAO were markedly reduced, whilst pyruvate oxidation was enhanced, highlighting the fact that metabolic remodelling is an early event in the development of cardiac hypertrophy.     

Zerumbone prevents pressure overload-induced left ventricular systolic dysfunction by inhibiting cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis

BackgroundCardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis are hallmarks of cardiac remodeling and are involved functionally in the development of heart failure (HF). However, it is unknown whether Zerumbone (Zer) prevents left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction by inhibiting cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis.PurposeThis study investigated the effect of Zer on cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in vitro and in vivo.Study Design/methodsIn primary cultured cardiac cells from neonatal rats, the effect of Zer on phenylephrine (PE)-induced hypertrophic responses and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)-induced fibrotic responses was observed. To determine whether Zer prevents the development of pressure overload-induced HF in vivo, a transverse aortic constriction (TAC) mouse model was utilized. Cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography. The changes of cardiomyocyte surface area were observed using immunofluorescence staining and histological analysis (HE and WGA staining). Collagen synthesis and fibrosis formation were measured by scintillation counter and picrosirius staining, respectively. The total mRNA levels of genes associated with hypertrophy (ANF and BNP) and fibrosis (Postn and α-SMA) were measured by qRT-PCR. The protein expressions (Akt and α-SMA) were assessed by western blotting.ResultsZer significantly suppressed PE-induced increase in cell size, mRNA levels of ANF and BNP, and Akt phosphorylation in cardiomyocytes. The TGF-β-induced increase in proline incorporation, mRNA levels of Postn and α-SMA, and protein expression of α-SMA were decreased by Zer in cultured cardiac fibroblasts. In the TAC male C57BL/6 mice, echocardiography results demonstrated that Zer improved cardiac function by increasing LV fractional shortening and reducing LV wall thickness compared with the vehicle group. ZER significantly reduced the level of phosphorylated Akt both in cultured cardiomyocytes treated with PE and in the hearts of TAC. Finally, Zer inhibited the pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis.ConclusionZer ameliorates pressure overload-induced LV dysfunction, at least in part by suppressing both cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis.     

Cardiac hypertrophy and changes in contractile function of cardiomyocyte

To investigate the cellular mechanisms of pressure-overload cardiac hypertrophy transition to heart failure, we observed time course of changes in morphology and contractile function of cardiomyocytes in transverse abdominal aortic constriction (TAC) rats. Since TAC rats suffered higher stress, body weight had a slower growth rate compared with that of synchronous control rats. Therefore, the left ventricular to body weight ratio produced experimental bias to evaluate the degree of cardiac hypertrophy. Length and width of collagenase-isolated cardiomyocyte were directly measured. Length, width and calculated surface area of cardiomyocyte showed a progressive increase in 8-, 16-, and 20-week TAC rats. The increasing rate of surface area in cardiomyocytes was higher at the middle stage of TAC (from the eighth to sixteenth week). Due to the constraint of fibrosis formation, the increasing rate of surface area in cardiomyocytes was slower at the late stage of TAC (from the sixteenth to twentieth week). The sarcomere length of cardiomyocytes was unchanged, whereas sarcomere numbers were significantly increased in 8-, 16-, and 20-week TAC rats. Shortening amplitude of unloaded contraction in single cardiomyocyte was significantly enhanced in 1-week TAC rats, but not altered in 8-week TAC rats compared with that in the synchronous control rats. On the contrary, unloaded shortening amplitude of single cardiomyocyte was significantly reduced in 16- and 20-week TAC rats. The above results suggest that the reduced shortening amplitude may be associated with intrinsic molecular alterations in hypertrophied cardiomyocytes.     

慢性低氧对大鼠左右心室的功能及TRPC亚家族表达的影响

目的：探讨慢性低氧3周对大鼠左右心室的影响以及规范性瞬时感受器电位亚家族（TRPC）在慢性低氧诱导的右心室心肌肥厚中的表达。方法：将SD雄性大鼠48只随机分为对照组（CON组）和慢性低氧肺动脉高压模型组（CH组）（n=24）,CH组将大鼠置于连续的慢性低氧（10％±0．2％）环境饲养三周以诱导大鼠发生心肌肥厚。通过左、右心室插管法测定右心室内压（RVSP）、左心室内压（LVSP）、心率（HR）、平均体循环动脉压（mSAP）、左、右心室内压力最大上升速率（＋dp／dtmax）、最大下降速率（-dp／dkmax）、右心肥大指数（RVMI）、左心肥大指数（LVMI）;HE染色观察左、右心室心肌组织切片;通过SYBR Green荧光定量PCR法检测CON组、CH组大鼠的肥厚侧心室心肌组织编码TRPC 1／3／4／5／6／7的rnRNA表达;结合real-time RT-PCR结果对mRNA表达有显著变化的TRPC亚型通过免疫印迹法检测相应蛋白的表达。结果：与CON组相比：CH组的RVSP、RVMI、右心室±dp／dtmax显著增高（P〈0．01）,LVSP、左心室±dp／dmax无显著变化,LVMI显著降低（P〈0．01）;CH组右心室心肌细胞显著增粗（P〈0．01）,细胞内肌原纤维数量增多,心肌纤维排列紊乱,细胞核深染,形状不整;左心室心肌纤维无明显改变;CH组编码TRPCI的mRNA和蛋白显著增高（P〈0．05）,而编码其余TRPC亚型的mRNA无显著变化。结论：慢性低氧3周可特异性诱导sD大鼠产生右心室心肌肥厚,上调了编码右心室心肌细胞TRPCI通道蛋白的mRNA和蛋白的表达,TRPCI可能参与了心肌肥厚的发生发展。     

Natriuretic peptide gene expression in DOCA-salt hypertension after blockade of type B endothelin receptor

We investigated the effect of long-term in vivo blockade of the ET-1 receptor subtype B (ET(B)) with A-192621, a selective ET(B) antagonist, on atrial and ventricular natriuretic peptide (NP) gene expression in deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertension. In this model, stimulation of the cardiac natriuretic peptide (NP) and the endothelin system and suppression of the renin-angiotensin system is observed. DOCA-salt induced significant hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy and increased NP plasma and left atrial and right and left ventricular NP gene expression. ET(B) blockade per se produced hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy but induced little change on the levels of ventricular NP and only increased left atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) mRNA levels. Combined ET(B) blockade/DOCA-salt treatment worsened hypertension, increased left ventricular hypertrophy and induced right ventricular hypertrophy. All animals so treated had increased ventricular NP gene expression. Collagen III and beta-myosin heavy chain gene expression were enhanced in both the right and the left ventricle of DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. The results of this study suggest that the ET(B) receptor does not participate directly in the modulation of atrial or ventricular NP gene expression and that this receptor mediates a protective cardiovascular function. ET(B) blockade can induce significant ventricular hypertrophy without an increase in ANF or brain NP gene expression.     

Down-regulation of mitofusin-2 expression in cardiac hypertrophy in vitro and in vivo

Mitofusin-2 (Mfn2) suppresses smooth muscle cell proliferation through inhibition of the Ras-extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) pathway. Since the ERK1/2 pathway is implicated in mediating hypertrophic signaling, we studied the changes in Mfn2 in cardiac hypertrophy using in vitro and in vivo models. Phenylephrine was used to induce hypertrophy in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs). In vivo hypertrophy models included spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), pressure-overload hypertrophy by transverse aortic constriction (TAC), hypertrophy of non-infarcted myocardium following myocardial infarction (MI), and cardiomyopathy due to cardiac-restricted overexpression of beta(2)-adrenergic receptors (beta(2)-TG). We determined hypertrophic parameters and analysed expression of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and Mfn2 by real-time PCR. Phosphorylated-ERK1/2 (phospho-ERK) was measured by Western blot. Mfn2 was downregulated in phenylephrine treated NRCMs (by approximately 40%), hypertrophied hearts from SHR (by approximately 80%), mice with TAC (at 1 and 3 weeks, by approximately 50%), and beta(2)-TG mice (by approximately 20%). However, Mfn2 was not downregulated in hypertrophied hearts with 15 weeks of TAC, nor in hypertrophied non-infarcted myocardium following MI. phospho-ERK1/2 was increased in hypertrophied myocardium at 1 week post-TAC, but not in non-infarcted myocardium after MI, indicating that downregulated Mfn2 may be accompanied by an increase of phospho-ERK1/2. This study shows, for the first time, downregulated Mfn2 expression in hypertrophied hearts, which depends on the etiology and time course of hypertrophy. Further study is required to examine the causal relationship between Mfn2 and cardiac hypertrophy.