Effect of 6-hydroxydopamine on the gene expression of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in the rat heart

The Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) is an important component of the process of excitation-contraction coupling in the heart muscle. The level of gene expression as well as transport activities of this membrane structure is changed under pathological conditions like ischemic injury, myocardial infarction or diabetes. In this work we focused on the question whether the adrenergic modulation affects gene expression of the NCX in rat hearts. NCX mRNA levels were studied in the left cardiac atrium (divided into ganglionic and nonganglionic part) and also in the left ventricle of rats treated with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in control and stressed conditions. We have shown that administration of 6-OHDA decreases mRNA levels of NCX in both ganglionic and nonganglionic part of the left atrium and also in the left ventricle. This effect was not altered under combined administration of 6-OHDA and single immobilization stress. These data suggest that an activation of the adrenergic system can potentiate gene expression of the cardiac NCX.