IMMUNOLOCALIZATION OF RAT CARDIAC BETA-MHC PROTEIN EXPRESSION IN SYSTEMIC HYPERTENSION AND CALORIC RESTRICTION

Previous studies have shown that both systemic hypertension induced by abdominal aortic constriction (Abcon) and 50% caloric restriction (CR) increase left ventricular (LV) beta-myosin heavy chain (MHC) protein expression in the rat. However, these two physiological states have different effects on hemodynamic load, and information regarding beta-MHC localization across the LV wall in these two models may provide insight into the process of adaptation to chronic stress among myocardial cells. Thus the goal of this study was to determine the pattern of beta-MHC protein expression across the LV wall in Abcon and CR models using a beta-MHC-specific antibody. Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats (similar to 225-250 g) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1) normal control (NC), 2) Abcon, and 3) CR. After a treatment period of 5 wk, Abcon LVs hypertrophied 52% relative to NC, accompanying the 42% increase in mean blood pressure. CR rats, however, had a normal LV weight-to-body weight ratio. The relative content of LV beta-MHC protein expression, as assessed by native gel electrophoresis, increased from 3% in NC to 25 and 41% in Abcon and CR rats, respectively. Immunohistochemical analysis of beta-MHC expression demonstrated that the increase in beta-MHC protein in the Abcon group occurred primarily on the endocardial side of the LV. In contrast, the increase in beta-MHC protein in the CR LV occurred equally across the entire LV wall. This suggests that CR has a global effect on MHC isoform expression in LV myocardial cells. Thus the models of Abcon and CR affected different populations of myocardial cells, consistent with previous findings suggesting that these models upregulate beta-MHC expression via different pathways.