Abstract 305: Nebivolol Confers Mitochondria-Targeted Cardioprotection in Isoproterenol-Induced Acute Stressor State

Abstract

Introduction: Isoproterenol-induced acute stressor state simulates injury from burns or trauma, and results in Ca 2+ overloading and oxidative stress in diverse tissues, including cardiac myocytes and their subsarcolemmal mitochondria (SSM), overwhelming endogenous Zn 2+ -based antioxidant defenses. We hypothesized that pretreatment with nebivolol (Nebi), having dual beta-1 antagonistic and novel beta-3 receptor agonistic properties, would prevent Ca 2+ overloading and oxidative stress and upregulate Zn 2+ -based antioxidant defenses, thus enhancing its overall cardioprotective potential in acute stressor state. Methods: Eight-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats received a single subcutaneous dose of isoproterenol (1 mg/kg) and compared to those treated with Nebi (10 mg/kg by gavage) for 10 days prior to isoproterenol. SSM were harvested from cardiac tissue at sacrifice. Total Ca 2+ , Zn 2+ and 8-isoprostane levels in tissue, and mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening, free [Ca 2+ ] m and H 2 O 2 production in SSM were monitored. Untreated, age-/sex-matched rats served as controls; each group had six rats and data shown as mean±SEM. Results: Compared to controls, isoproterenol rats revealed: (1) Significantly (*p<0.05) increased cardiac tissue Ca 2+ (8.2±0.8 vs. 13.7±1.0*, nEq/mg fat-free dry tissue (FFDT)), which was abrogated ( # p<0.05) by Nebi (8.9±0.4 # ); (2) Reduced cardiac Zn 2+ (82.8±2.4 vs. 78.5±1.0*, ng/mg FFDT), but restored by Nebi (82.4±0.6 # ); (3) Two-fold rise in cardiac 8-isoprostane (111.4±13.7 vs. 232.1±17.2*, pmoles/mg protein), and negated by Nebi (122.3+14.5 # ); (4) Greater opening propensity for mPTP that diminished by Nebi; (5) Elevated [Ca 2+ ] m (88.8±2.5 vs. 161.5±1.0*, nM), but normalized by Nebi (93.3±2.7 # ); and (6) Increased H 2 O 2 production by SSM (97.4±5.3 vs. 142.8±7.0*, pmoles/mg protein/min), and nullified by Nebi (106.8±9.0 # ). Conclusions : Cardioprotection conferred by Nebi, a unique beta-blocker, prevented Ca 2+ overloading and oxidative stress in cardiac tissue and SSM, while simultaneously augmenting antioxidant capacity and promoting mPTP stability. Therapeutic potential of Nebi in patients with acute stressor states remains a provocative possibility that deserves to be explored.