Activation of epidermal growth factor receptor mediates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion arrhythmias in anaesthetized rats

Objectives Epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR）is a receptor protein tyrosine kinase and plays a critical role in the development and function of the heart.Previous studies have demonstrated that EGFR is involved in regulating electrical excitability of the heart.The present study was designed to investigate whether EGFR activation would mediate myocardial arrhythmias induced by ischemia/reperfu- sion in anaesthetized rats.Methods and results Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion arrhythmias were induced by 10 min ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery,followed by a 30 min reperfusion in anaesthetized rats.Incidence and severity of cardiac arrhythmias were significantly reduced by pretreatment with the EGFR kinase inhibitor AG556.Phosphorylation level of myocardial EGFR was increased during ischemia and at early reperfusion.Intramyocardial transfection of EGFR siRNA reduced EGFR mRNA and protein,and decreased the incidence of ventricular fibrillation induced by reperfusion.Interestingly,tyrosine phosphorylation levels of cardiac Na+ channel(INa) and L-type Ca2+ channel(ICa.l) were significantly increased at corresponding time points to the alteration of phosphorylated EGFR level during reperfusion.AG556 pretreatment countered the increased tyrosine phosphorylation level of Na+ and L-type Ca2+ channels induced by reperfusion.No significant alteration was observed in tyrosine phosphorylation levels of cardiac Kv4.2 and Kir2.1 channels during the cardiac ischemia/reperfusion. Conclusions These results demonstrate for the first time that EGFR plays an important role in the genesis of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion arrhythmias,which is likely mediated at least in part by enhancing tyrosine phosphorylation of cardiac Na+ and L-type Ca2+ channels.

Effect of electroacupuncture at Neiguan(PC6)at different time points on myocardial ischemia reperfusion arrhythmia in rats

OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of electroacupuncture at Neiguan(PC6)at different time points on reperfusion arrhythmia(RA)after myocardial ischemia and reperfusion in rats,and to investigate the correlation of this protective effect with nerve growth factor(NGF),tyrosine kinase A(Trk A),tyrosine hydroxylase(TH),and norepinephrine(NE).METHODS:A total of 72 Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into six groups(n=12 rats/group):normal group(Norm),sham operation group(Sham),ischemia reperfusion group(I/R),pre-ischemic electroacupuncture group(EAI),pre-reperfusion electroacupuncture group(EAII),post-reperfusion electroacupuncture group(EAIII).The myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury(MIRI)model was induced by occlusion of left anterior descending coronary artery for 20 min followed by reperfusion for 40 min in rats.With no intervention in the Norm group and only threading without ligation in the Sham group.Electroacupuncture pretreatment at 20 min/d for 7 d before ligation in the EAⅠgroup,20 min of electroacupuncture before reperfusion in the EAII group and 20 min of electroacupuncture after reperfusion in the EAIII group.The electrocardiogram(ECG)of each group was recorded throughout the whole process,and the success of the MIRI model was determined based on the changs of J-point and T-wave in the ECG.The arrhythmia score was used to record premature ventricular contractions,ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation during the reperfusion period to assess the reperfusion induced arrhythmias.The expression levels of NGF,Trk A,TH protein were measured by Western blot.Moreover,the expression levels of plasma and myocardial NE levels were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.RESULTS:The differences between Norm group and Sham group were not statistically significant in all indexes.Arrhythmia score,myocardial NGF,Trk A,TH,and NE expression were significantly higher in the I/R group compared with the Sham group.Arrhythmia score,myocardial NGF,Trk A,TH,and NE expression were significantly lower in each EA group compared with the I/R group.CONCLUSION:Electroacupuncture at Neiguan(PC6)at different time points can reduce the incidence and severity of reperfusion arrhythmias in rats.This protective effect is related to electroacupuncture regulating NGF,Trk A,TH,NE expression and reducing sympathetic hyperactivation.