Modulation of left and right ventricular beta-adrenergic receptors from spontaneously hypertensive rats with left ventricular hypertrophy and failure.

Inotropic responsiveness to beta-adrenergic stimulation is generally found to be depressed in cardiac hypertrophy and failure. To investigate whether inotropic responsiveness is associated with alterations in beta-adrenergic receptors in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), we studied left ventricular myocardial contractile responses to isoproterenol and beta-adrenergic receptor density and affinity in age-matched rats (18 to 24 months), including SHR without heart failure, SHR with evidence of heart failure, and normotensive control Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). In the baseline state, papillary muscles from failing SHR demonstrated decreased isometric tension development and a reduction in maximal rate of tension development relative to normotensive WKY and compensated SHR. Compared with WKY, beta-adrenergic receptor density of the left ventricle was unchanged in nonfailing SHR and increased in failing SHR (P < .05 versus WKY and nonfailing SHR), and beta-adrenergic receptor affinity did not differ among groups. In the right ventricle, beta-adrenergic receptor density was decreased in failing SHR relative to WKY and nonfailing SHR, and beta-adrenergic receptor affinity was not different among groups. Muscle preparations did not exhibit a positive inotropic response to 10(-8) to 10(-5) mol/L isoproterenol or 6.3 mumol/L forskolin in either failing or nonfailing SHR, whereas a positive inotropic response to both drugs was observed in the normotensive WKY. The lusitropic response to isoproterenol and forskolin was intact and similar in both SHR groups and WKY. The findings suggest that in the SHR model of heart failure, impaired intrinsic left ventricular myocardial function and depressed inotropic responsiveness to beta-adrenergic stimulation are not associated with downregulation of the beta-adrenergic receptor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Beta-adrenergic receptors, adenylate cyclase activation, and myofibril enzyme activity in hypothyroid rats.

A previous study in intact animals assessed cardiovascular alterations in surgically thyroidectomized rats. Hemodynamic challenge via isoproterenol infusion identified abnormal left ventricular relaxation. Challenge by aortic occlusion revealed a latent deficiency in left ventricular contractility which was not apparent during beta-agonist challenge. The present study utilized left ventricular cardiac tissue obtained from the identical control and thyroidectomized animals from which intact heart hemodynamic information had been obtained. Biochemical systems were selected for evaluation based on demonstrated hemodynamic alterations, i.e., beta-adrenergic receptor number/function and contractile protein enzyme properties. The number of beta-receptors on hypothyroid cardiac membranes was significantly decreased, but receptor agonist affinity was not influenced. Basal adenylate cyclase activity in cardiac membranes from control and thyroidectomized rats was nearly identical; however, isoproterenol activation was diminished in hypothyroid cardiac membrane, particularly at the higher levels of beta-agonist stimulation. Adenylate cyclase enzyme activation by forskolin was not influenced by thyroidectomy; however, activation by sodium fluoride was reduced approximately 30% when compared with preparations from control rats. Cardiac myofibrillar enzyme activity for adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) was significantly lower in thyroidectomized rats. Despite reduced ATPase activity, myofibrillar calcium sensitivity was unaltered. Myofibrillar creatine kinase enzyme activity was not influenced by thyroidectomy; therefore, compartmentalized ATP regeneration potential via creatine kinase was enhanced relative to substrate utilization via ATPase. Thus hemodynamically significant cardiac influences of hypothyroidism are mediated, at least in part, via 1) reduced beta-receptor number, 2) diminished catecholamine-induced activation of adenylate cyclase, and 3) reduced myofibrillar ATPase activity.

Cardiovascular alterations in the hypothyroid rat.

We conducted the present studies in intact animals to assess alterations in integrated cardiovascular function due to hypothyroidism. Rats were surgically thyroidectomized or sham operated. Most obvious among the alterations detected under resting conditions was the bradycardia present in hypothyroid animals. Cardiac output was significantly reduced by slower heart rate; however, mean arterial blood pressure and left ventricular +dP/dt were maintained. Total peripheral resistance was increased in hypothyroid animals. Functional responsiveness to hemodynamic challenges unmasked additional characteristics. Thyroidectomized animals had normal stroke index-left ventricular end diastolic pressure relationships in response to rapid volume infusion. Peak left ventricular +dP/dt response to brief aortic occlusion was attenuated in thyroidectomized animals. Hypothyroid rats failed to augment left ventricular -dP/dt in response to isoproterenol challenge. Moreover, isoproterenol failed to reduce total peripheral resistance in the hypothyroid rat. Therefore, the hemodynamic responses observed in the intact, hypothyroid animal are consistent with the presence of (a) decreased cardiac contractile protein ATPase, (b) reduced calcium uptake by cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum and (c) altered vascular adrenergic receptors. Many cellular and subcellular defects are compensated by integrative mechanisms operating under resting conditions, while other defects are unmasked only when examined in the intact, functional cardiovascular system undergoing hemodynamic challenge.

Integrative nature and time course of cardiovascular alterations in the diabetic rat.

Time-dependent alterations in integrated cardiovascular function were assessed in the streptozotocin-diabetic rat. Hemodynamic measurements in the intact, anesthetized animal revealed significant and progressive reduction in heart rate after 2, 4, and 8 weeks of diabetes. Myocardial contractility (+ dP/dt) and rate of relaxation (-dP/dt) were preserved at 2 weeks, but progressively declined thereafter. Integrative mechanisms maintained mean arterial blood pressure within normal limits at all time points. Pressure was regulated by minimizing cardiac output reduction via slight increases in stroke volume (Starling mechanism) and concomitant small increases in total peripheral resistance. In response to graded isoproterenol infusion and brief, total aortic occlusion, percent increase of heart rate and + dP/dt was maintained despite decrements in absolute values. Reduced peripheral vasodilation resulted in elevated sensitivity of the heart rate-blood pressure relationship during isoproterenol challenge. The -dP/dt was uniformly impaired in diabetic rats during isoproterenol infusion. When given a rapid saline infusion, diabetic hearts appropriately augmented volume output via the Starling mechanism. Initial hemodynamic abnormalities observed in the intact, diabetic rat are consistent with known defects in cardiac adrenergic receptor density, contractile protein ATPase activity, and sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium uptake. However, many cellular and subcellular defects are compensated by integrative hemodynamic mechanisms while latent alterations are observed only in the intact cardiovascular system.

beta-Adrenergic receptors, adenylate cyclase activity, and cardiac dysfunction in the diabetic rat.

Cardiomyopathy is a complication of human diabetes mellitus. The relationship of cardiac function to the beta-adrenergic receptor and catecholamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was investigated in the streptozotocin-diabetic rat. beta-Adrenergic receptor number in cardiac membranes from diabetic rats was reduced. After 2 weeks of diabetes, the response of adenylate cyclase to isoproterenol stimulation was not altered. Cardiac contractile function assessed by the maximum rate of rise of left ventricular pressure (LV dP/dtmax) in an open-chest anesthetized rat was also unchanged from control at 2 weeks. However, after 4 weeks of diabetes, the sensitivity of adenylate cyclase to isoproterenol stimulation was depressed and abnormalities in cardiac contractility were noted, including a depressed response of LV dP/dtmax to graded isoproterenol infusion. These studies suggest that alterations in beta-adrenergic receptors and their coupling to adenylate cyclase may be important in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Regression of thyroid hormone induced cardiac hypertrophy: effect on cardiac beta receptors and adenyl cyclase activity.

Adrenergic mechanisms may be important in the symptomatic manifestations of hyperthyroidism. The chronic administration of thyroid hormone also results in cardiac hypertrophy and increased numbers of beta-adrenergic receptors in cardiac membranes. The roles of adrenergic mechanisms in the initiation and perpetuation of this hypertrophy has been open to speculation. Rats treated chronically with L-thyroxin were sacrificed after 7 days of treatment and 1-4 days after cessation of treatment. Hearts were removed and weighed and norepinephrine measured. In other groups of identically treated rats, membranes were prepared from the left ventricle for in vitro measurements of beta-adrenergic receptor characteristics and adenyl cyclase activity. Regression of cardiac hypertrophy with a decrease in receptor number to control values was seen as early as 2 days after stopping thyroxine. Cardiac norepinephrine concentrations had also returned to control values at this time. Displacement of bound [H3] dihydroalprenolol by isoproterenol was not changed from control. Basal and isoproterenol stimulated adenyl cyclase activity was not changed by thyroxine administration or its cessation. The rapid reversal of the increased beta-adrenergic receptor number and cardiac hypertrophy raises the possibility that thyroid hormone may play a regulatory role in cardiac function. Although the enhancement of myocardial contractility by thyroid hormone may be mediated through cardiac hypertrophy this effect of thyroid hormone is independent of the catecholamine sensitive adenyl cyclase system.

The effect of concurrent oral administration of propranolol and disopyramide on cardiac function in healthy men.

Sixteen healthy men were evaluated for left ventricular performance changes and beta-blockade after therapeutic oral doses of disopyramide and propranolol administered alone and concurrently. The volunteers were randomly assigned to receive one of two drug treatment regimens that differed in the sequence and duration of administration of the drugs. Left ventricular function was assessed by echocardiographically determined ejection fraction (EF) and systolic time intervals. Beta-blockade was assessed by changes in exercise heart rate. Both disopyramide and propranolol exhibited negative inotropic activity, as evidenced by significant, although clinically inconsequential, decreases in EF and increases in the ratio of preejection period to left ventricular ejection time. The negative inotropic effects of a single 200-mg dose of disopyramide and an 80-mg dose of propranolol were comparable, while chronic disopyramide therapy (200 mg every 6 hours for 1 week) had a greater negative inotropic effect than chronic propranolol therapy (80 mg every 8 hours for 1 week). Only propranolol had beta-adrenoceptor blocking activity. When the drugs were administered concurrently, the negative inotropic effects of oral propranolol and disopyramide were neither additive nor synergistic.