Stable microtubules contribute to cardiac dysfunction in the streptozotocin-induced model of type 1 diabetes in the rat

Cardiac microtubule stability is increased in the streptozotocin (STZ) model of type 1 diabetes. Here, we investigate the reason for increased microtubule stability, and the functional consequences of stable microtubule disruption. Ventricular myocytes were isolated from rats at 8–12 weeks after injection of STZ. A 10% increase in microtubule density, but no difference in the ratio of microtubule-associated protein 4 (MAP4) to tubulin was seen in myocytes from STZ rats. Functionally, STZ myocytes showed a tendency for reduced shortening and intracellular Ca²⁺ (Ca²⁺] _i ) transient amplitude, and a significant prolongation of time to peak (ttp) shortening and Ca²⁺] _i . Although microtubules in STZ myocytes were less sensitive to the microtubule disruptor nocodazole (NOC; 33 μM) than control myocytes, we only saw marked functional consequences of microtubule disruption by NOC in myocytes from diabetic animals. NOC increased shortening and Ca²⁺] _i transient amplitude in STZ myocytes by 45 and 24%, respectively (compared with 4 and 6% in controls). Likewise, NOC decreased ttp shortening and Ca²⁺] _i only in STZ myocytes, such that these parameters were no longer different between the two groups. In conclusion, stable microtubules in diabetes are not associated with an increase in MAP4, but are functionally relevant to cardiac dysfunction in diabetes, regulating both Ca²⁺] _i and shortening. Holly Shiels and Anthony O’Connell are equal first authorship.