Abstract 13438: The Role and Mechanism of Chronic Beta3-Adrenergic Receptor Blockade on the Progression of Heart Failure in a Rat Model

Abstract

Background: The negative inotrope and up-regulation of β 3 -adrenergic receptors (AR) in human and animal failing hearts suggest a direct and contributing role of cardiac β 3 -AR activation on the progression of congestive heart failure (CHF). However, its precise role is still being debated. We hypothesize that up-regulation of cardiac β 3 -AR is detrimental and chronic β 3 -AR blockade may prevent CHF-caused intrinsic defects of left ventricular (LV) myocyte force-generating capacity and relaxation and improve β-AR regulation, thereby limiting the progression of CHF. Methods: We compared the alterations of LV and myocyte functional responses and [Ca 2+ ] i transient ([Ca 2+ ] iT ) in SD rats divided into 3 groups (8/group): 1) CHF 3 months after isoproterenol (ISO) (170 mg/kg, sq, for 2 days); 2) ISO/β 3 -ANT , 2 months after receiving ISO, a selective β 3 -AR antagonist (ANT), L-748,337, was initiated (10 -7 M/kg/day, sq. by mini-pump) and was given for 1 month; and 3) Sham controls . Results: Compared with controls, the animals that received ISO treatment had CHF onset at 1 month and progressed to severe HF at 3 months after ISO. Plasma norepinephrine (NE) (1295 vs 259 pg/ml) increased 5-fold; whereas, stroke volume (SV) (39 vs 91 μl) and ejection fraction (EF) (39 vs 62%) significantly decreased, and LV end-diastolic pressure (P ED ) (13.9 vs 6.0 mmHg) was doubled. These changes were paralleled with about 50% reductions in cell contraction (dL/dt max , 93 vs 186 μm/s) and relaxation (dR/dt max , 96 vs 159 μm/s) associated with a significant decrease in the peak systolic [Ca 2+ ] iT , (0.17 vs 0.26). In addition, superfusion of ISO (10 -8 M) caused much less increases in dL/dt max (39 vs 68%), dR/dt max (23 vs 54%), and [Ca 2+ ] IT (14 vs 28%). Treatment with β 3 -ANT increased SV (89 μl) and EF (60%), decreased P ED more than 90% from ISO-treated values, and corrected the elevation of plasma NE (301 pg/ml), dL/dt max (184 μm/s), dR/dt max (152 μm/s), and [Ca 2+ ] iT (0.24). ISO-induced increase in dL/dt max and [Ca 2+ ] iT also returned close to control levels. Conclusion: Chronic β 3 -ANT treatment after CHF significantly improves LV and myocyte contractile function and [Ca 2+ ] i regulation and limits the development of CHF. Thus, β 3 -AR blocker may provide a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of CHF.