Objective: To evaluate the effects of beta(3)-adrenoreceptor (AR) agonist (BRL-37344) on the expression of beta(3)-AR in a isoproterenol (ISO)-induced heart failure (HF) rat model and to investigate the influence on the levels of beta(3)-AR in failing heart.
Methods: The rats were randomly divided into four groups: I group (control group, n=10); II group (normal with BRL group, n=10); III group (HF group, n=30); IV group (HF with BRL group, n=35).II and IV groups received BRL 0.4 nmol.kg-1.min-1 through caudal vein for 10 minutes twice a week. I and III groups received saline at the same time. The measure included hemodynamics, the expression of beta3-AR in left ventricular myocytes by the techniques of immunohistochemistry, beta3-AR proteins by western blot, expression levels of beta3-AR mRNA in myocardium by reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the levels of apoptotic cells with a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling(TUNEL) kit.
Results: (1)Hemodynamic: The tendency of left ventricular end systolic pressure (PES), maximal rates of rise of ventricular pressure(dp/dtmax), maximal rates of decline of ventricular pressure (dp/dtmin) in II, III and IV groups were lower (P<0.01), time constant of left ventricular relaxation (Tc) and left ventricular end diastolic pressure (PED) were higher than those of the I group (all P<0.01). There was no difference between I and II group except PED (P<0.05). Compared with III group, PES, dp/dtmax, dp/dtmin in IV group were dramatically decline (P<0.05): Tc, PED were markedly increased (Tc P<0.05, PED P<0.01). (2)The levels of beta3-AR mRNA and beta3-AR proteins were higher in III and IV groups when compared with I and II groups. There was no difference between I and II group. IV group's levels were higher than III group's. (3)The apoptotic rates in III group and IV group were significantly higher than those in I and II group (all P<0.01). When compared with III group's apoptotic cell rate, IV group's was higher (P<0.01).
Conclusion: The levels of beta(3)-AR mRNA and proteins show an increase in failing heart compared with nonfailing heart. The effect of beta(3)-AR agonist aggravate markedly cardiac function and stimulate cardiac myocytes apoptosis in failing heart. If the levels of beta(3)-AR were too high, they might contribute to the loss of cardiac function and be the foundation of the functional degradation of HF.