Distinct effects of different β-adrenoceptor stimulation patterns on car-diac AMP-activated protein kinase activity / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the cardiac AMP-activated protein kinase ( AMPK) activity and the effects of AMPK activator on cardiac structure and function in the mice with different β-adrenoceptor (β-AR) stimulation patterns . METHODS:Male BALB/c mice were subcutaneously injected with AMPK activator ( AICAR, 250 mg· kg -1 · d-1 ) or saline, and infused with β-AR agonist isoproterenol (ISO, 5 mg· kg-1· d-1) for 14 d.The cardiac functions were evalu-ated by echocardiography or hemodynamic method , and the hearts were harvested after infusion cessation immediately or 3 d later.Phosphorylated AMPK ( p-AMPK) was measured by Western blot .RESULTS:Sustained ISO infusion increased p-AMPK level.AICAR did not further increase p-AMPK but attenuated ISO-induced increase in heart weight .Sustained ISO infusion increased cardiac systolic function as indicated by left ventricular fractional shortening ( FS) and maximum rate of pressure rise (+dp/dtmax).The cardiac systolic function was not further increased by AICAR .The cardiac diastolic func-tion as indicated by left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was not different in each group .In contrast, cardiac p-AMPK level was similar between the control mice and the mice with sustained ISO infusion and ceased infusion for 3 d. In this model, AICAR improved the cardiac systolic and diastolic functions , which were impaired by ISO.Moreover, the increased pattern of p-AMPK level was similar with that of heart rate upon ISO stimulation .CONCLUSION: Sustained ISO infusion increases p-AMPK.After ISO infusion cessation for 3 d, p-AMPK is decreased to the basal level .β-AR-in-duced inotropic effects should be avoided to investigate the cardioprotective role of AMPK activation in the β-AR stimulation models.