Gene expression of the phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase is differently modulated in cardiac atria and ventricles

Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) is a final enzyme in catecholamine synthesizing cascade that converts noradrenaline to adrenaline. Although most profuse in adrenal medulla, PNMT is expressed also in the heart, particularly in cardiac atria and ventricles. In atria, the PNMT mRNA is much more abundant compared to ventricles. In present study we aimed to find out whether there is a difference in modulation of the PNMT gene expression in cardiac atria and ventricles. We used three methodological approaches: cold as a model of mild stress, hypoxia as a model of cardiac ischemic injury, and transgenic rats (TGR) with incorporated mouse renin gene (mREN-2)27, to determine involvement of renin-angiotensin pathway in the PNMT gene expression. We have found that PNMT gene expression was modulated differently in cardiac atria and ventricles. In atria, PNMT mRNA levels were increased by hypoxia, while cold stress decreased PNMT mRNA levels. In ventricles, no significant changes were observed by cold or hypoxia. On the other hand, angiotensin II elevated PNMT gene expression in ventricles, but not in atria. These results suggest that PNMT gene expression is modulated differently in cardiac atria and ventricles and might result in different physiological consequences.