Intermittent hypoxia attenuates ischemia/reperfusion induced apoptosis in cardiac myocytes via regulating Bcl-2/Bax expression

Intermittent hypoxia has been shown to provide myocardial protection against ishemia/reperfusion-induced injury.Cardiac myocyte loss through apoptosis has been reported in ischemia/reperfusion injury. Our aim was to investigate whether intermittent hypoxia could attenuate ischemia/reperfusion-induced apoptosis in cardiac myocytes and its potential mechanisms. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to hypoxia simulated 5000 m in a hypobaric chamber for 6 h/day, lasting 42 days. Normoxia group rats were kept under normoxic conditions. Isolated perfused hearts from both groups were subjected to 30 min of global ischemia followed by 60 min reperfusion.Incidence of apoptosis in cardiac myocytes was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and DNA agarose gel electrophoresis. Expressions of apoptosis related proteins,Bax and Bcl-2, in cytosolic and membrane fraction were detected by Western Blotting. After ischemia/reperfusion,enhanced recovery of cardiac function was observed in intermittent hypoxia hearts compared with normoxia group.Ischemia/reperfusion-induced apoptosis, as evidenced by TUNEL-positive nuclei and DNA fragmentation, was significantly reduced in intermittent hypoxia group compared with normoxia group. After ischemia/reperfusion,expression of Bax in both cytosolic and membrane fractions was decreased in intermittent hypoxia hearts compared with normoxia group. Although ischemia/reperfusion did not induce changes in the level of Bcl-2 expression in cytosolic fraction between intermittent hypoxia and normoxia groups, the expression of Bcl-2 in membrane fraction was upregulated in intermittent hypoxia group compared with normoxia group. These results indicated that the cardioprotection of intermittent hypoxia against ischemia/reperfusion injury appears to be in part due to reduce myocardial apoptosis. Intermittent hypoxia attenuated ischemia/reperfusion-induced apoptosis via increasing the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax, especially in membrane fraction.

Protective function of tocilizumab in human cardiac myocytes ischemia reperfusion injury

Objective:To investigate the protective function of tocilizumab in human cardiac myocytes ischemia-reperfusion injury.Methods:The human cardiac myocytes were treated by tocilizumab with different concentrations(1.0 mg/mL,3.0 mg/mL,5.0 mg/mL) for 24 h.then cells were cultured in ischemia environment for 24 h and reperfusion environment for 1 h.The MTT and flow cytometry were used to detect the proliferation and apoptosis of human cardiac myocytes,respectively.The mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were measured by qRT-PCR and western blot,respectively.Results:Compared to the negative group,pretreated by tocilizumab could significantly enhance the proliferation viability and suppress apoptosis of human cardiac myocytes after suffering ischemia reperfusion injury(P<0.05).The expression of Bcl-2 in tocilizumab treated group were higher than NC group(P<0.05).while the Bax expression were lower(P<0.05).Conclusions:Tocilizumab could significantly inhibit apoptosis and keep the proliferation viability of human cardiac myocytes after suffering ischemia reperfusion injury.Tocilizumab may obtain a widely application in the protection of ischemia reperfusion injury.

EFFECT OF PEROXISOME PROLIFERATOR-ACTIVATED RECEPTOR ACTIVATORS ON TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR-αEXPRESSION IN NEONATAL RAT CARDIAC MYOCYTES

Objective To investigate the effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α(PPARα) and PPARγactivators on tumor necrosis factor-α(TNFα) expression in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. Methods Primary cultures of cardiac myocytes from 1- to 3-day-old Wistar rats were prepared, and myocytes were ex-posed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and varying concentrations of PPARαor PPARγactivator (fenofibrate or pioglitazone).RT-PCR and ELISA were used to measure TNFα, PPARα, and PPARγexpression in cultured cardiac myocytes. Transient tr-ansfection of TNFαpromoter with or without nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) binding site to cardiac myocytes was performed. Results Pretreatment of cardiac myocytes with fenofibrate or pioglitazone inhibited LPS-induced TNFαmRNA and protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. However, no significant changes were observed on PPARαor PPARγmRNA expression when cardiac myocytes were pretreated with fenofibrate or pioglitazone. Proportional suppression of TNFαpromoter activity was observed when myocytes was transiently transfected with whole length of TNFαpromoter (-721/+17) after being stimulated with LPS and fenofibrate or pioglitazone, whereas no change of promoter activity was observed with transfection of TNFαreporter construct in deletion of NF-κB binding site (-182/+17). Conclusions PPARαand PPARγactivators may inhibit cardiac TNFαexpression but not accompanied by change of PPARαor PPARγmRNA expression. Therefore PPARαand PPARγactivators appear to play a role in anti-inflammation. The mechanism may partly be involved in suppression of the NF-κB pathway.

Effect of Cholic Acid on Fetal Cardiac Myocytes in Intrahepatic Choliestasis of Pregnancy

This study examined the effect of cholic acid （CA） on cultured cardiac myoeytes （CMs） from neonatal rats with an attempt to explore the possible mechanism of sudden fetal death in intra- hepatic cholestasis of pregnancy （ICP）. Inverted microscopy was performed to detect the impact of CA on the beating rates of rat CMs. MTT method was used to study the effect of CA on the viability of CMs. CMs cultured in vitro were incubated with 10 ~maol/L Ca2＋-sensitive fluorescence indicator fluo-3/AM. The fluorescence signals of free calcium induced by CA were measured under a laser scanning confocal microscope. The results showed that CA decreased the beating rates of the CMs in a dose-dependent manner. CA could suppress the activities of CMs in a time- and dose-dependent manner. CA increased the concentration of intracellular free calcium in a dose-dependent manner. Our study suggested that CA could inhibit the activity of CMs by causing calcium overload, thereby leading to the sudden fetal death in ICP.

In Vitro Study on Mesenchymal Stem Cells:Anti-apoptotic Effects on Cardiac Myocytes

Objectives To investigate the anti-apoptotic effects of mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） on hypoxic injured cardiac myocytes in vitro. Methods MSCs were isolated from bone marrow of Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats, and cardiac myocytes from neonatal rats. The rat cardiac myocytes were co-cultured with MSCs or MSC-conditioned media in anoxia （95% N2 ±5% CO2） for 72 hours. Cell apoptosis was measured by Hoechst 33258 staining. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in cardiac myocytes was tested by Western Blot. Results The apoptotic rate was 51.6% ± 2.4% when cardiac myocytes were cultured in continuous hypoxia and was significantly decreased when cardiac myocytes were cocultured with MSCs or MSC-conditioned media （ 15.1% ± 5.4% and 24. 0% ± 4.2% respectively, P 〈 0. 001 ）. The decreased expression of Bax in the cardiac myocytes was greatly related to the decreasing of apoptosis, but there was no difference in Bcl-2 expression among these groups. Conclusions Co-cultured MSCs showed significant anti-apoptotic effects on cardiac myocytes in continuous hypoxia. The mechanism may be the interact of cell to cell and paracrine of cytokines which effected the expression of Bax in the cardiac myocytes.

Antioxidant Effect of Human Selenium-containing Single-chain Fv in Rat Cardiac Myocytes

Reactive oxygen species（ROS） plays a key role in human heart diseases. Glutathione peroxidase（GPX） functions as an antioxidant as it catalyzes the reduction of hydroperoxide. In order to investigate the antioxidant effect of human selenium-containing single-chain Fv（Se-scFv-B3）, a new mimic of GPX, a model system of hydrogen peroxide（H202）-induced rat cardiac myocyte damage was established. The cardiac myocyte damage was characte- rized in terms of cell viability, lipid peroxidation, cell membrane integrity, and intracellular H202 level. The Se-scFv-B3 significantly reduced H2O2-induced cell damage as shown by the increase of cell viability, the decline of malondialdehyde（MDA） production, lactate dehydrogenase（LDH） release, and intracellular H2O2 level. So Se-scFv-B3 may have a great potential in the treatment of human heart diseases induced by ROS.

Role of NF-κB in protection of EPO pretreatment on neonatal rat cardiac myocytes with hypoxia/reoxygenation injury

Objective：To observe the protective effects of erythropoietin （EPO） pretreatment on cardiac myocyte with hypoxia/reoxygenation （H/R） injury and the role of NF-κBin this effects. Methods：After the H/R model of cardiac myocytes of neonatal rats was established, the cultured cardiac myocytes were divided into 4 groups, including EPO pretreatment group （ EPO 10 U/ml 24 h before H/R）, EPO pretreatment ＋ PDTC group（EPO 10 U/ml and PDTC 5 μg/ml 24 h before H/R）, PDTC group （PDTC 5 μg /ml 24 h before H/R） and eomrolgroup. Before and after the H/R, assay of LDH concentration in the culture medium, the survival rate of the myocytes tested by MTT chromatometry and the apoptosis by flow cytometry were undertaken. Activation of NF-κB was determined by EMSA before and after H/R. Results：EPO pretreatment markedly reduced the LDH concentration in the medium, elevated the survival rate of myocytes and inhibited the apoptosis after H/R. Addition of PDTC during the pretreatment abol- ished the protective effects of EPO pretreatment. NF-κB was markedly activated during EPO pretreatment and PDTCinhibited the activation. However, after H/R, the activity of NF-κB in myocytes with EPO pretreatment was significantly inhibited compared to the other myocytes. Conclusion：NF-κB is significantly activated during EPO pretreatment, but is inhibited after H/R, which is correlated with the protective effects of EPO pretreatment on cardiac myocytes with H/R. This phenomenon can be explained as the negative feedback mechanism of the activation of NF-κB.

Effects of simvastatin on hypertrophy and PTEN expression of rat cardiac myocytes

Objective To study the effects of simvastatin on the hypertrophy of cultured rat cardiac myocytes induced by serum and the role ofphosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten （PTEN） in the signal pathway. Methods Cultured neonatal Sprague- Dawley （SD） rat cardiac myocytes were treated with 15% fetal bovine serum, or without serum, or different consentrations of simvastatin. Image analysis system was used to measure the cardiac myocytes surface area. Protein synthesis of myocytes was measured via [3H]-leucine incorporation method. The expression level of atrial natriuretic peptide （ANP） mRNA in myocytes was determined with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）. The mRNA and protein expression levels of PTEN in cardiac myocytes were investigated with RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. Results At 24 hours, cardiac myocytes surface area was significantly higher in 15% serum group （1611.16± 160.75 lam2） than in serum-free group （538.04±118.60 ±tm2, P〈0.01）. Simvastatin decreased the cell surface area in a concentration dependent manner. The cell surface area in 10-5 and 10-6 mol/L simvastatin groups were 799.84＋ 167.70 ±tm2 and 1076.88± 199.28 um2 respectively, which were both significantly lower than that in 15% fetal bovine serum group （P〈0.01）. Incorporation rate of [3H]-leucine was significantly higher in 15% fetal bovine serum group （2360± 106cpm/well） than that in serum-free group （1305±92 cpm/well, P〈0.01）. Incorporation rate of [3H]-leucine in 10.5 and 10.6 mol/L simvastatin groups were 1707±101 clam/well and 1962±125 cpm/well respectively, which were both lower than that in serum group （P〈0.01）. With the increase of simvastatin concentration, the expression level ofANP mRNA in cardiac myocytes was decreased gradually, which were 0.29±0.03 and 0.40-±0.03 respectively in 10.5 and 10-6 mol/L simvastatin groups, and significantly lower than that in serum group（0.60-±.03, P〈0.01）. Simvastatin increased the expressions of PTEN mRNA and protein in cardiac myocytes in a concentration dependent manner. PTEN mRNA expression level in 10-7, 10-6and 105mol/L simvastatin groups were 0.38±0.03, 0.83±0.04 and 0.85±0.05, respectively, which were all higher than that in 15% fetal bovine serum group （0.29±0.04, P〈0.05）. Similarly, PTEN protein level in 10-7, 10-6 and 10.5 mol/L simvastatin groups （39.25±3.41, 46.35±1.78 and 47.22±2.39 respectively） were also significantly higher than that in 15% fetal bovine serum group （32.21±4.06, P〈0.05）. Conclusion Simvastatin can inhibit the hypertrophy of cultured rat cardiac myoeytes induced by serum, and the increase of expression level of PTEN might be involved in the mechanism （J Geriatr Cardio12010; 7：47-51）.

Effect of post-burn serum on free cytosolic calcium in isolated cardiac myocytes of adult rats

The ohjective of this study was to determine whether the free intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+] ) of isolatedcardiac myocytes increased with the stimulation of post-burn serum(PBS) in adult rats. Cardiac myocytes were isolated by collage-nase using Langendorff’s perfusion apparatus, and [Ca2+], was measured using the fluorescent indicator Fain-2. The normal[Ca2+], was 101. 3 ± 21. 3 nmol/L in cardic myocytes. PBS at various postburn home could very significantly increase the[Ca2+]i (P< 0. 01 ) and, 6 h PBS had the strongest effect. However, no significant difference was found between the effects of2 h PBS and 4 h PBS (P >0. 05 ). Both calcium channel antagonist verapamil(30 umol/L) and the inhibitor of ryanodine receptoron sarcoplasmic reticulum procaine (2 mmol/L), very significantly inhibited the action of 6 h PBS, with the inhibition rate of47. 7% and 67. 6% respectively. The inhibiting rate of procaine was significantly greater than that of verapamil (P < 0. 01 ). Theresults suggested that PBS could stimulate the increase of [Ca2+], in isolated cardiac myocytes of adult rats, in which calcium release from intracellular stores might play greater roles. Agents modulating the calcium release from intracellular stores are expectedto have great significance in preventing the organic injuries due to the increases of [ Ca2+]i.

Isolation of Ca^(2+) Tolerant Cardiomyocytes from Aadult Rats for Patch Clamp Studies

Objective: To investigate the factors affecting the viability and Ca 2+ tolerance of isolated rats' cardiac myocytes for patch clamp research. Methods: Hearts were firstly perfused by the Langendorff perfusion apparatus with normal Tyrode's solution, then with Ca 2+-free Tyrode's solution and subsequently with low Ca 2+ enzyme solution containing collagenase 0.1-0.2 g/L. All the solutions were saturated with oxygen and the perfusion temperature was kept at 37 ℃. Finally hearts were washed by Ca 2+-free Tyrode's solution, after which the ventricles were minced into small pieces in KB solution, dispersed and filtered. The isolated myocytes were stored in KB solution at room temperature for 1 h and recovered to normal calcium concentration before patch clamp experiments.Results: When all the factors such as water, enzyme, Ca 2+,pH, and oxygen were well controlled, the well constructed and rod-like cardiac myocytes with a yielding rate of 30%-50% came out.Conclusion: All the factors should be well controlled, which ensured the isolated cells Ca 2+ tolerant and appropriate for patch clamp experiments.

PROTECTIVE ROLE OF SOPHOCARPINE IN COXSACKIEVIRUS B3 INFECTION IN CULTURED RAT CARDIOMYOCYTES

Objective To observe the anti-CVB3 （ Coxsackievirus B3 ） effect of sophocarpine （SC） extracted from Sophora flavescens, a traditional Chinese herb in vitro. Methods Cardiomyocytes from the neonatal rat were cultured to establish the viral myocarditis model The cells were divided into four groups： infected group （ infected by CVB3 ） , SC treated group （ added SC 100 μg/mL after viral infection ）, SC control group （ added SC 100 μg/mL only）, and normal control group. The cytopathic effect （CPE） and the beating frequency of the myocardial cells were observed and the LDH levels in the supernatant were measured at day 2,3, and 5. The cultured myocytes were added different concentrations of SC （ 12. 5 -400 μg/mL ） after infection with CVB3, the CPE was observed and the concentrations of LDH were measured and compared at day 2, 3, and 5. Results In the SC treated group （ 100 μg/mL ） , the cytopathic effect was lighter and the LDH level was lower than the infected group. SC in a concentration of 12. 5 - 300 μg/mL could relieve the CPE and lower the LDH level, while in a higher concentration （400 μ/m ） , it exacerbated the CPE caused by the virus, and the LDH levels were higher than the infected cells. Conclusion SC in certain concentration could protect the cultured rat cardiomyocytes from CVB3 infection.

Antioxidant Effect of Selenium-containing Glutathione S-Transferase in Rat Cardiomyocytes

As one of the most important antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase（GPX） protects cells and tissues from oxidative damage, and plays an important role in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular injuries induced by oxida- tive stress. The antioxidant effect of selenium-containing glutathione S-transferase（Se-GST）, a mimic of GPX was investigated on rat cardiomyocytes. To explore the protection function of Se-GST in hydrogen peroxide（H202） chal- lenged rat cardiomyocytes, we examined malondialdehyde（MDA）, lactate dehydrogenase（LDH）, superoxide dismu- tase（SOD） and cell apoptosis. The results demonstrate exposure of rat cardiomyocytes to H202 for 6 and 12 h induced the significant increases of MDA, LDH and apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes, but pretreatment of rat cardiomyocytes with Se-GST at 0.0005 or 0.001 unit/mL prevents oxidative stress induced by H202 with the decreases of cell apopto- sis. All the results hint Se-GST has antioxidant activity for oxidative stress challenged rat cardiomyocvtes.

Safety and effect of umbilical cord blood -derived mesenchymal stem cells on apoptosis of human cardiomyocytes

Objective To study the safety and effect of the umbilical cord blood （UCB）-derived mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） on apoptosis of human cardiomyocytes （HCM）. Methods UCB was collected at the time of delivery with informed consent obtained from 10 donors. The UCB-derived MSCs were treated with 5-azaserube （5-AZA） and were further induced to differentiate into cardiomyocytes. Telomerase activity, G-banding patterns of chromosomal karyotypes, tumor formation in nude mice, RT-PCR, and the effect of inhibiting apoptosis of HCM were investigated. Results MSCs derived from UCB were differentiated into cardiomyocytes in vitro, which possessed telomerase activity after 5-AZA induction, and no abnormal chromosomal karyotypes were observed. Expression of p53, cyclin A, cdk2, ~3 -actin, C-fos, h-TERT and c-myc were similar in MSCs before and after 5-AZA treatment. There was no tumor formation in nude mice after injection of UCB-derived MSCs. UCB-derived MSCs significantly inhibited apoptosis of HCM. Conclusion UCB-derived MSCs are a valuable, safe and effective source of cell-transplantation treatment .

Effects of simulated microgravity on nitric oxide level in cardiac myocytes and its mechanism

The depression of cardiac contractility induced by space microgravity is an important issue of aerospace medicine research, while its precise mechanism is still unknown. In the present study, we explored effects of simulated microgravity on nitric oxide (NO) level, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and related regulative mechanism using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization. We found a remarkable in-crease of NO level and up-regulation of iNOS and iNOS mRNA expression in rat cardiac myocytes under simulated microgravity. Staurosporine (a nonselective protein kinase inhibitor), calphostin C (a selective protein kinase C inhibitor), partially inhibited the effect of simulated microgravity. Thus regulative effect of simulated microgravity on iNOS expression is mediated at least partially via activation of protein kinase C. These results indicate that NO system in cardiac myocytes is sensi-tive to simulated microgravity and may play an important role in the depression of cardiac contrac-tility induced by simulated microgravity.

Effects of adiponectin on oxidative stress and apoptosis in human cardiac myocytes cultured with high glucose

Background Diabetic cardiomyopathy is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. Oxidative stress plays an important role in diabetic cardiomyopathy. This study aimed to investigate the effects of adiponectin on oxidative stress and apoptosis in human cardiac myocytes （HCM） cultured with high glucose. Methods The cells were assigned to three group： control group, high glucose group and high glucose plus adiponectin group. After culture for 24, 48, 72 hours, oxidative stress was evaluated by detecting levels of malondialdehyde （MDA） and superoxide dismutase （SOD） in the supernatant of culture media. The expression of p66Shc and Heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1） was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction （PCR）. Flow cytometry was designed to observe and detect cellular apoptosis. Results Our findings showed significant increase in MDA levels and decrease in SOD activity in the high glucose group compared with the control group （P 〈0.05）. However, MDA levels were significantly decreased and SOD activity was significantly increased in the adiponectin group compared with those in the high-glucose group （P 〈0.05）. The mRNA expression of HO-1 in the high glucose group was significantly increased in a time-dependent manner compared with that in the control group （P 〈0.05）. Adiponectin further increased the mRNA expression of HO-1 induced by high glucose in a time-dependent manner （P 〈0.05）.The expression of p66Shc was significantly increased in high glucose group compared with that in the control group （P 〈0.05）. Adiponectin significantly suppressed the upregulation of p66Shc induced by high glucose （P 〈0.05）. The apoptotic rate of cardiomyocytes was significantly increased in the high glucose group compared with that in the control group while the apoptotic rate in the adiponectin group was remarkably declined in comparison with that in the high glucose group. Conclusion Adiponectin reduces high glucose-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis and plays a protective role in myocardial cells by upregulating the HO-1 expression and downregulating p66Shc expression.

Ultrasonic destruction of albumin microbubbles enhances gene transfection and expression in cardiac myocytes

Background It has been proven that ultrasonic destruction of microbubbles can enhance gene transfection efficiency into the noncardiac cells, but there are few reports about cardiac myocytes. Moreover, the exact mechanisms are not yet clear; whether the characteristic of microbubbles can affect the gene transfection efficiency or not is still controversial.This study was designed to investigate whether the ultrasound destruction of gene-loaded microbubbles could enhance the plasmids carried reporter gene transfection in primary cultured myocardial cell, and evaluate the effects of microbubbles characteristics on the transgene expression in cardiac myocytes.Methods The β-galactosidase plasmids attached to the two types of microbubbles, air-contained sonicated dextrose albumin （ASDA） and perfluoropropane-exposed sonicated dextrose albumin （PESDA） were prepared. The gene transfection into cardiac myocytes was performed in vitro by naked plasmids, ultrasound exposure, ultrasonic destruction of gene-loaded microbubbles and calcium phosphate precipitation, and then the gene expression and cell viability were analyzed.Results The ultrasonic destruction of gene-loaded microbubbles enhanced gene expression in cardiac myocytes compared with naked plasmid transfection （（51.95±2..41） U/g or （29.28±3.65） U/g vs. （0.84-0.21） U/g, P ＜0.01）, and ultrasonic destruction PESDA resulted in more significant gene expression than ASDA （（51.95e2.41） U/g vs. （29.28±3.65）U/g, P ＜0.05）. Ultrasonic destruction of microbubbles during calcium phosphate precipitation gene transfection enhanced 3-galactosidase activity nearly 8-fold compared with calcium phosphate precipitation gene transfection alone （（111.35±11.21） U/g protein vs. （14.13±2.58） U/g protein, P＜0.01）. Even 6 hours after calcium phosphate precipitation gene transfection, ultrasound-mediated microbubbles destruction resulted in more intense gene expression （（35.63±7.65）U/g vs. （14.13±2.58） U/g, P＜0.05 ）.Conclusions Ultrasonic destruction of microbubbles might be a promising method for the delivery of non-viral DNA into cardiac myocytes, and the gene tranfection is related to the characteristics of microbubbles.

Effects of hypoxia on promoter of telomerase reverse transcriptase and cell cycle distribution in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes

On the hypothesis that telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) of cardiac myocytes (CMs) is consistent with cell cycle distribution as well as tumour cells, we plan to investigate the expression of TERT in CMs and how TERT is in keeping with CMs cycle distribution after birth and under hypoxia, and roughly understand how hypoxia affects activity of TERT promoter.

Contribution of spontaneous L-type Ca^(2+) channel activation to the genesis of Ca^(2+) sparks in resting cardiac myocytes

Ca2+ sparks are the elementary events of intracellular Ca2+ release from the sar-coplasmic reticulum in cardiac myocytes. In order to investigate whether spontaneous L-type Ca2+ channel activation contributes to the genesis of spontaneous Ca2+ sparks, we used confocal laser scanning microscopy and fluo-4 to visualize local Ca2+ sparks in intact rat ventricular myocytes. In the presence of 0.2 mmol/L CdCI2 which inhibits spontaneous L-type Ca2+ channel activation, the rate of occurrence of spontaneous Ca2+ sparks was halved from 4.20 to 2.04 events/(100 μm·s), with temporal and spatial properties of individual Ca2+ sparks unchanged. Analysis of the Cd2+-sensitive spark production revealed an open probability of-10-5 for L-type channels at the rest membrane potentials (-80 mV). Thus, infrequent and stochastic openings of sarcolemmal L-type Ca2+ channels in resting heart cells contribute significantly to the production of spontaneous Ca2+ sparks.

Epidermal gowth factor receptor participates in growth hormone signaling pathway in cardiac myocytes of neonatal rat

Objective To examine whether growth hormone (GH) promotes the phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and to elucidate the mechanisms by which EGF receptors were transactivated by GH stimulation Methods Cultured cardiac myocytes were stimulated by GH directly or pretreated with inhibitors before GH stimulation The phosphorylations of EGF receptor and JAK 2 were examined with immunoprecipitation followed by Western blotting using anti phosphotyrosine antibody (4G10) The activities of extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERKs) were assayed with the method of MBP containing gel Results GH stimulated phosphorylation of EGF receptor in a time dependent manner Tyrphostin AG1478, a selective inhibitor of EGF receptor, strongly suppressed GH induced ERK activation, while tyrphostin AG1295, a selective inhibitor of PDGF receptor, had no effects on the activation of ERKs stimulated by GH in cardiac myocytes In addition, GH induced tyrosine phosphorylation of JAK 2, a cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinase, in cardiac myocytes Moreover, tyrphostin B 42 , an inhibitor of JAK 2 suppressed GH induced phosphorylation of EGF receptor as well as GH induced activation of ERKs in cardiac myocytes Conclusions GH evokes the phosphorylation of EGF receptor in cardiac myocytes through activating JAK 2 Phosphorylated EGF receptor plays a critical role in GH signaling pathway leading to ERK activation in cardiac myocytes