A neutralizing leptin receptor antibody mitigates hypertrophy and hemodynamic dysfunction in the postinfarcted rat heart

2008 ◽  
Vol 295 (1) ◽  
pp. H441-H446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel M. Purdham ◽  
Venkatesh Rajapurohitam ◽  
Asad Zeidan ◽  
Cathy Huang ◽  
Garrett J. Gross ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Cardiac Function ◽  
Leptin Receptor ◽  
Diastolic Pressure ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Coronary Artery Ligation ◽  
Receptor Blockade ◽  
Receptor Antibody ◽  
Postinfarction Remodeling

The 16 kDa adipokine leptin has been shown to exert direct hypertrophic effects on cultured cardiomyocytes although its role as an endogenous contributor to postinfarction remodeling and heart failure has not been determined. We therefore investigated the effect of leptin receptor blockade in vivo on hemodynamic function and cardiac hypertrophy following coronary artery ligation (CAL). Cardiac function and biochemical parameters were measured in rats subjected to 7 or 28 days of left main CAL in the presence and absence of a leptin receptor antibody. Animals subjected to an identical treatment in which the artery was not tied served as sham-operated controls. CAL produced myocardial hypertrophy, which was most pronounced 28 days postinfarction as demonstrated by increases in both left ventricular weight-to-body weight ratio and atrial natriuretic peptide gene expression, both of which were abrogated by leptin receptor antagonism. Leptin receptor blockade also significantly improved left ventricular systolic function, attenuated the increased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, and reduced the expression of genes associated with extracellular matrix remodeling 28 days following CAL. In conclusion, the ability of a leptin receptor-neutralizing antibody to improve cardiac function offers evidence that endogenous leptin contributes to cardiac hypertrophy following CAL. The possibility exists that targeting the myocardial leptin receptor represents a viable and novel approach toward attenuating postinfarction remodeling.

Time course of hemodynamic changes in rats with healed severe myocardial infarction

1989 ◽  
Vol 257 (1) ◽  
pp. H289-H296 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. DeFelice ◽  
R. Frering ◽  
P. Horan
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Cardiac Output ◽  
Diastolic Pressure ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Coronary Artery Ligation ◽  
Sham Operation ◽  
Functional Changes

Male rats were monitored for 8 mo after severe myocardial infarction (MI) to chronicle hemodynamic and left ventricular (LV) functional changes. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), cardiac output index (CO), regional blood flow, and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) were measured with catheters and radiolabeled microspheres at 4, 7, 10, 20, and 35 wk after coronary artery ligation (n = 10–16/group) or sham operation (control; n = 9–14/group). At 4 wk, 43 +/- 1% of the LV circumference was scarred, peak LV BP, LV dP/dtmax, mean BP, SVR, and HR were 11–38% less than control (P less than 0.05), and LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was increased by 313% (P less than 0.05). Mean BP, LVEDP, LVBP, and LV dP/dtmax did not further deviate after 4 wk. However, CO and SVR changed progressively and were 67 and 33%, respectively, of control by 35 wk (P less than 0.05) when blood flow to stomach, small intestine, and kidney was 55, 38, and 27% of control. Lung and heart weights were significantly increased by 148 and 22% at 4 wk, and remained elevated, and lung dry weight-to-wet weight ratio was reduced at 7 and 10 wk. Thus the trajectory of rats with healed severe MI reflects progressive cardiac decompensation, cardiac output redistribution, and terminal heart failure.

Dependence of changes in β-adrenoceptor signal transduction on type and stage of cardiac hypertrophy

2007 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 978-984 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajat Sethi ◽  
Harjot K. Saini ◽  
Xiaobing Guo ◽  
Xi Wang ◽  
Vijayan Elimban ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Signal Transduction ◽  
Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Cardiac Function ◽  
Adenylyl Cyclase ◽  
Diastolic Pressure ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Cyclase Activity ◽  
Adenylyl Cyclase Activity ◽  
Hemodynamic Assessment ◽  
Intracellular Ca

To examine whether cardiac hypertrophy is associated with changes in β-adrenoceptor signal transduction mechanisms, pressure overload (PO) was induced by occlusion of the abdominal aorta and volume overload (VO) by creation of an aortocaval shunt for 4 and 24 wk in rats. After hemodynamic assessment of the animals, the left ventricular (LV) particulate fraction was isolated for measurement of β1-adrenoceptors and adenylyl cyclase activity, and cardiomyocytes were isolated for monitoring of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Although PO and VO produced cardiac hypertrophy and increased LV end-diastolic pressure at 4 wk, cardiac function was increased in animals subjected to PO but remained unaltered in animals subjected to VO. Cardiac hypertrophy and increased LV end-diastolic pressure were associated with depressed cardiac function at 24 wk of PO or VO, but clinical signs of congestive heart failure were evident only in animals subjected to VO. Isoproterenol-induced increases in cardiac function, activation of adenylyl cyclase activity, and increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration, as well as β1-adrenoceptor density, were unaltered by PO at 4 wk, augmented by VO at 4 wk, and attenuated by PO and VO at 24 wk. These results suggest that alterations in β1-adrenoceptor signal transduction are dependent on the type and stage of cardiac hypertrophy.

Polydatin attenuates cardiac hypertrophy through modulation of cardiac Ca2+ handling and calcineurin-NFAT signaling pathway

2014 ◽  
Vol 307 (5) ◽  
pp. H792-H802 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenwen Ding ◽  
Ming Dong ◽  
Jianxin Deng ◽  
Dewen Yan ◽  
Yun Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Cardiac Function ◽  
Cardiac Contractility ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Neonatal Rat ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Calcineurin Activity ◽  
Calcineurin Pathway

Polydatin (PD), a resveratrol glucoside extracted from the perennial herbage Polygonum cuspidatum, has been suggested to have wide cardioprotective effects. This study aimed to explore the direct antihypertrophic role of PD in cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) and its therapeutic effects against pressure overload (PO)-induced hypertrophic remodeling and heart failure. Furthermore, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the actions of PD. Treatment of NRVMs with phenylephrine for 72 h induced myocyte hypertrophy, where the cell surface area and protein levels of atrial natriuretic peptide and β-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC) were significantly increased. The amplitude of systolic Ca2+ transient was increased, and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ recycling was prolonged. Concomitantly, calcineurin activity was increased and NFAT protein was imported into the nucleus. PD treatment restored Ca2+ handling and inhibited calcineurin-NFAT signaling, thus attenuating the hypertrophic remodeling in NRVMs. PO-induced cardiac hypertrophy was produced by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in C57BL/6 mice, where the left ventricular posterior wall thickness and heart-to-body weight ratio were significantly increased. The cardiac function was increased at 5 wk of TAC, but significantly decreased at 13 wk of TAC. The amplitude of Ca2+ transient and calcineurin activity were increased at 5 wk of TAC. PD treatment largely abolished TAC-induced hypertrophic remodeling by inhibiting the Ca2+-calcineurin pathway. Surprisingly, PD did not inhibit myocyte contractility despite that the amplitude of Ca2+ transient was decreased. The cardiac function remained intact at 13 wk of TAC. In conclusion, PD is beneficial against PO-induced cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure largely through inhibiting the Ca2+-calcineurin pathway without compromising cardiac contractility.

Abstract 75: Ischemic Heart Failure is Exacerbated in CD39-null Mice

2015 ◽  
Vol 117 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana Novitskaya ◽  
Debra G Wheeler ◽  
Zhaobin Xu ◽  
Elena Chepurko ◽  
Bo Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Cardiac Function ◽  
Diastolic Pressure ◽  
Contractile Function ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion ◽  
Smooth Muscles ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Cardiac Performance ◽  
Coronary Artery Ligation ◽  
Genetic Ablation

Background: CD39 (ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase) is a nucleotidase expressed on endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscles cells, and leukocytes. CD39 plays a key role in vascular homeostasis, hydrolyzing extracellular ATP and ADP. CD39 has been shown to be important in models of ischemic preconditioning and cardiac ischemia reperfusion. However, the effect of CD39 activity on functional recovery of heart after myocardial infarction (MI) has not been evaluated. Hypothesis: Genetic ablation of CD39 expression exacerbates post-myocardial infarction cardiac function and fibrosis. Methods: Wild-type (WT) and CD39-null mice were subjected to coronary artery ligation. Cardiac function and protein evaluation of fibrotic markers was performed at day 28 post-MI. Results: Evaluation at Day 28 post-MI revealed that while mice of both genotypes had similarly reduced ejection fraction and equally compromised contractile function (dP/dtmax), there was a more pronounced negative effect on lusitropy (dP/dtmin) and increased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure in CD39-null mice. Therefore, cd39 gene ablation associates with the development of worsening cardiac performance. Histological analysis revealed increased collagen deposition and abundance of alpha-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) positive interstitial cells in the CD39-null hearts compared to WT hearts. To quantify these findings immunoblot analysis for collagen and αSMA was performed. We found that collagen and αSMA were increased at Day 28 post-MI, in CD39-null hearts compared to WT hearts. Conclusion: CD39 ablation has detrimental effects on post-MI recovery, resulting in diminished cardiac performance and increased fibrosis.

Abstract 3471: Ablation Of Phospholamban And Sarcolipin Has A Deleterious Effect On SERCA Pump Activity And Cardiac Contractility

Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mayilvahanan Shanmugam ◽  
Shumin Gao ◽  
Evangelia Kranias ◽  
Muthu Periasamy ◽  
Gopal J Babu
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Cardiac Function ◽  
Deleterious Effect ◽  
Contractile Function ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Heart Weight ◽  
Double Knockout ◽  
Pump Activity ◽  
Serca Pump

Recent studies have been directed towards the potential therapeutic value of improving the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) function in the failing myocardium. Overexpression of SERCA pump or inhibiting the function of phospholamban (PLB) has been shown to improve the cardiac function in failing myocardium. Towards this goal, we enhanced the SERCA pump activity in both atria and ventricle by ablating its key regulators, PLB and sarcolipin (SLN). The homozygous double knockout (dKO) pups were delivered in Mendelian ratio and reached adulthood without any visible abnormalities. However, these mice develop cardiac hypertrophy. The heart weight to body weight ratio significantly increased in 3– 4 months old dKO mice (WT-3.08±0.11 vs. dKO-4.14±0.14) and is associated with enlargement of myocytes (WT-117±8 μm2 vs. dKO-166±10 μm2). Ablation of PLB and SLN did not affect the expression of major Ca2+ handling proteins including SERCA2a, calsequestrin, L-type Ca2+ channel and ryanodine receptor in both atria and ventricles. Echocardiographic measurements showed increased diastolic (WT-0.90±0.02 mm vs. dKO-1.26±0.07 mm) and systolic (WT-1.33±0.03 mm vs. dKO-1.68±0.08 mm) septal wall thicknesses and diastolic (WT-0.91±0.02 mm vs. dKO-1.15±0.07 mm) and systolic (WT-1.15±0.03 mm vs. dKO-1.35±0.07 mm) post wall thickness in 3– 4 months old dKO mice hearts. However, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD), LV end-systolic dimension and ejection fraction (EF, %: WT-0.73±0.12 vs. dKO-0.69±0.03) are not very different from wildtype indicating preserved contractile function in the dKO mice. Our studies therefore suggest that the enhanced Ca2+ sensitivity of cardiac SERCA pump can progressively lead to cardiac hypertrophy and may have a deleterious effect on cardiac function during pathological conditions.

Effects of avertin versus xylazine-ketamine anesthesia on cardiac function in normal mice

2001 ◽  
Vol 281 (5) ◽  
pp. H1938-H1945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chari Y. T. Hart ◽  
John C. Burnett ◽  
Margaret M. Redfield
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Function ◽  
Diastolic Pressure ◽  
Systolic Function ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Lv Function ◽  
Ketamine Anesthesia ◽  
The Difference ◽  
And Function ◽  
Derivatives Of

Anesthetic regimens commonly administered during studies that assess cardiac structure and function in mice are xylazine-ketamine (XK) and avertin (AV). While it is known that XK anesthesia produces more bradycardia in the mouse, the effects of XK and AV on cardiac function have not been compared. We anesthetized normal adult male Swiss Webster mice with XK or AV. Transthoracic echocardiography and closed-chest cardiac catheterization were performed to assess heart rate (HR), left ventricular (LV) dimensions at end diastole and end systole (LVDd and LVDs, respectively), fractional shortening (FS), LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), the time constant of isovolumic relaxation (τ), and the first derivatives of LV pressure rise and fall (dP/d t max and dP/d t min, respectively). During echocardiography, HR was lower in XK than AV mice (250 ± 14 beats/min in XK vs. 453 ± 24 beats/min in AV, P < 0.05). Preload was increased in XK mice (LVDd: 4.1 ± 0.08 mm in XK vs. 3.8 ± 0.09 mm in AV, P < 0.05). FS, a load-dependent index of systolic function, was increased in XK mice (45 ± 1.2% in XK vs. 40 ± 0.8% in AV, P < 0.05). At LV catheterization, the difference in HR with AV (453 ± 24 beats/min) and XK (342 ± 30 beats/min, P < 0.05) anesthesia was more variable, and no significant differences in systolic or diastolic function were seen in the group as a whole. However, in XK mice with HR <300 beats/min, LVEDP was increased (28 ± 5 vs. 6.2 ± 2 mmHg in mice with HR >300 beats/min, P < 0.05), whereas systolic (LV dP/d t max: 4,402 ± 798 vs. 8,250 ± 415 mmHg/s in mice with HR >300 beats/min, P < 0.05) and diastolic (τ: 23 ± 2 vs. 14 ± 1 ms in mice with HR >300 beats/min, P < 0.05) function were impaired. Compared with AV, XK produces profound bradycardia with effects on loading conditions and ventricular function. The disparate findings at echocardiography and LV catheterization underscore the importance of comprehensive assessment of LV function in the mouse.

Breathing nitric oxide plus hydrogen gas reduces ischemia-reperfusion injury and nitrotyrosine production in murine heart

2013 ◽  
Vol 305 (4) ◽  
pp. H542-H550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshihiro Shinbo ◽  
Kenichi Kokubo ◽  
Yuri Sato ◽  
Shintaro Hagiri ◽  
Ryuji Hataishi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Cardiac Function ◽  
Infarct Size ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion Injury ◽  
Myocardial Dysfunction ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion ◽  
Neutrophil Infiltration ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Hydrogen Gas ◽  
Coronary Artery Ligation

Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) has been reported to decrease the infarct size in cardiac ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, reactive nitrogen species (RNS) produced by NO cause myocardial dysfunction and injury. Because H2 is reported to eliminate peroxynitrite, it was expected to reduce the adverse effects of NO. In mice, left anterior descending coronary artery ligation for 60 min followed by reperfusion was performed with inhaled NO [80 parts per million (ppm)], H2 (2%), or NO + H2, starting 5 min before reperfusion for 35 min. After 24 h, left ventricular function, infarct size, and area at risk (AAR) were assessed. Oxidative stress associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) was evaluated by staining for 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, that associated with RNS by staining for nitrotyrosine, and neutrophil infiltration by staining for granulocyte receptor-1. The infarct size/AAR decreased with breathing NO or H2 alone. NO inhalation plus H2 reduced the infarct size/AAR, with significant interaction between the two, reducing ROS and neutrophil infiltration, and improved the cardiac function to normal levels. Although nitrotyrosine staining was prominent after NO inhalation alone, it was eliminated after breathing a mixture of H2 with NO. Preconditioning with NO significantly reduced the infarct size/AAR, but not preconditioning with H2. In conclusion, breathing NO + H2 during I/R reduced the infarct size and maintained cardiac function, and reduced the generation of myocardial nitrotyrosine associated with NO inhalation. Administration of NO + H2 gases for inhalation may be useful for planned coronary interventions or for the treatment of I/R injury.

Abstract 13798: Ablation of the Hypertension Candidate Gene ATP2B1 Results in Increased Blood Pressure and Cardiac Hypertrophic Remodeling

Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally K Hammad ◽  
Min Zi ◽  
Sukhpal Prehar ◽  
Robert Little ◽  
Ludwig Neyses ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Diastolic Pressure ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Blood Pressure Regulation ◽  
Heart Weight ◽  
Genome Wide Association Studies ◽  
Pressure Regulation ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. Genome wide association studies have recently identified single nucleotide polymorphisms in ATP2B1 , the gene encoding the calcium extrusion pump, plasma membrane calcium ATPase (PMCA1), as having a strong association with hypertension risk. Hypothesis: PMCA1 plays an important role in regulation of blood pressure and protection against hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy. Aims: We aim to examine whether there is a functional link between PMCA1 and blood pressure regulation, and the development of hypertension. And to determine the impact this link may have on cardiac structure and function. Methods and Results: To study the role of PMCA1 we generated a global PMCA1 heterozygous knockout mouse (PMCA1 Ht ). PMCA1 Ht mice had 46% to 52% reduction in PMCA1 protein expression compared to the WT, in aorta, heart, kidney and brain. To study the mice under hypertensive stress conditions, 3 month old PMCA1 Ht and wild type (WT) mice were infused via minipump with angiotensin II (1mg/Kg/daily) or water as a control. Upon angiotensin treatment, PMCA1 Ht mice showed a significantly greater increase in systolic (62.24±3.05 mmHg) and diastolic pressure (52.68±4.67 mmHg), in comparison to the WT (33.37±2.91 mmHg and 23.94±4.56 mmHg, respectively), P<0.001, n=12. Moreover, PMCA1 Ht mice showed a significantly greater hypertrophic response as indicated by a greater heart weight to tibia length ratio, cardiomyocyte cell size (410±18.7 μm 2 ), compared to WT mice (340.4±9.8 μm 2 ), and increased expression of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), 2.36 ± 0.25 fold change, n =5-6, P< 0.01. Echocardiography showed no significant changes between PMCA1 Ht and WT mice, in heart rate, and in cardiac function, as indicated by fractional shortening and ejection fraction. In addition, PMCA1 Ht mice showed no sign of lung congestion as indicated by lung weight to body weight ratio. Conclusion: ATP2B1 deletion leads to increased blood pressure and cardiac hypertrophy. This provides functional evidence that PMCA1 is involved in blood pressure regulation and protects against the development of hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy.

Abstract 402: Vitamin C Deficiency Impairs Cardiac Function and Post-infarction Survival in the Mouse

2017 ◽  
Vol 121 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adolfo G Mauro ◽  
Donatas Kraskauskas ◽  
Bassem M Mohammed ◽  
Bernard J Fisher ◽  
Eleonora Mezzaroma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin C ◽  
Cardiac Function ◽  
Diastolic Function ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Coronary Artery Ligation ◽  
Artery Ligation ◽  
Additional Group ◽  
Gulonolactone Oxidase ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Systolic And Diastolic Function

Introduction: L-gulonolactone oxidase (Gulo) is the rate limiting enzyme for Vitamin C (VitC) biosynthesis. Humans rely on dietary VitC for collagen synthesis, extracellular matrix formation, and tissue regeneration. VitC deficiency is an unrecognized condition and its role in cardiac homeostasis and post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remodeling is unknown. Hypothesis: Low levels of VitC impair cardiac function and tissue repair following AMI. Methods: Adult male Gulo -/- knockout mice (C57BL6 background, N=8) and control C57BL (N=8), which are able to synthesize VitC were used. VitC deficiency was maintained supplying low levels of VitC (30mg/l) to Gulo -/- mice in drinking water. Mice underwent M-mode and Doppler echocardiography to measure left ventricular (LV) diameters and wall thicknesses, fractional shortening (FS), E and A waves, E/A ratio, isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT) and myocardial performance index (MPI). Experimental AMI was induced by coronary artery ligation for 7 days. An additional group of Gulo -/- were mice supplemented with physiological levels of VitC (330 mg/l) and underwent AMI. Results: VitC deficient Gulo -/- mice exhibited significantly reduced LV wall thicknesses, reduced FS, and impaired diastolic function, measured as significantly reduced E/A ratio and longer IRT (Panel A, B & C). Following AMI, 100% (8/8) of deficient Gulo -/- mice died within 5 days. Supplementation with physiological levels of VitC significantly improved survival after AMI (Panel D). Conclusion: VitC deficiency impairs systolic and diastolic function. Moreover, VitC is critical for the post-AMI survival.

Abstract 314: BRaf Plays a Major Role in Gene Expression in Cardiomyocytes in Mouse Hearts in vivo

2017 ◽  
Vol 121 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle A Hardyman ◽  
Stephen J Fuller ◽  
Daniel N Meijles ◽  
Kerry A Rostron ◽  
Sam J Leonard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Cardiac Function ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Braf Mutations ◽  
Gene Markers ◽  
Lv Mass ◽  
Cardiac Volumes

Introduction: Raf kinases lie upstream of ERK1/2 with BRaf being the most highly expressed and having the highest basal activity. V600E BRaf mutations constitutively activate ERK1/2 and are common in cancer. The role of BRaf in the adult heart is yet to be established. ERK1/2 regulate cardiomyocyte gene expression, promoting cardiac hypertrophy and cardioprotection, but effects of ERK1/2 may depend on signal strength. Hypothesis: Our hypotheses are that BRaf is critical in regulating ERK1/2 signaling in cardiomyocytes and, whilst moderate ERK1/2 activity is beneficial, excessive ERK1/2 activity is detrimental to the heart. Methods: We generated heterozygote mice for tamoxifen- (Tam-) inducible cardiomyocyte-specific knockin of V600E in the endogenous BRaf gene. Mice (12 wks) received 2 injections of Tam or vehicle on consecutive days (n=4-10 per group). Kinase activities and mRNA expression were assessed by immunoblotting and qPCR. Echocardiography was performed (Vevo2100). M-mode images (short axis view) were analyzed; data for each mouse were normalized to the mean of 2 baseline controls. Results: V600E knockin did not affect overall BRaf or cRaf levels in mouse hearts, but significantly increased ERK1/2 activities within 48 h (1.51±0.05 fold). Concurrently, mRNAs for hypertrophic gene markers including BNP and immediate early genes (IEGs) increased signficantly. At 72 h, expression of BNP, Fosl1, Myc, Ereg and CTGF increased further, other IEGs (Jun, Fos, Egr1, Atf3) declined, and ANF was upregulated. In contrast, expression of α and β myosin heavy chain mRNAs was substantially downregulated (0.46/0.41±0.05 relative to controls). Within 72 h, left ventricular (LV) mass and diastolic LV wall thickness had increased (1.23±0.05 relative to controls), but cardiac function was severely compromised with significant decreases in ejection fraction and cardiac output (0.53/0.68±0.09 relative to controls) associated with increased LV internal diameters and cardiac volumes. Conclusions: Endogenous cardiomyocyte BRaf is sufficient to activate ERK1/2 in mouse hearts and induce cardiac hypertrophy associated with dynamic temporal changes in gene expression. However, excessive activation of ERK1/2 in isolation is detrimental to cardiac function.

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