Abstract
Introduction: Ageing and chronic metabolic disorders are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and cardiac pro-arrhythmic phenotypes which were recently attributed to slowed atrial and ventricular action potential (AP) conduction in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ co-activator deficient (Pgc-1β−/−) mice. Methods: We compared expression levels of voltage-gated Na+ channel (NaV1.5) and gap junction channels, Connexins 40 and 43 (Cx40 and Cx43) in the hearts of young and old, and wild-type (WT) and Pgc-1β−/− mice. This employed Western blotting (WB) for NaV1.5, Cx40 and Cx43 in atrial/ventricular tissue lysates, and immunofluorescence (IF) from Cx43 was explored in tissue sections. Results were analysed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for independent/interacting effects of age and genotype. Results: In atria, increased age and Pgc-1β−/− genotype each independently decreased both Cx40 and Cx43 expression without interacting effects. In IF experiments, both age and Pgc-1β deletion independently reduced Cx43 expression. In ventricles, age and genotype exerted interacting effects in WB studies of NaV1.5 expression. Young Pgc-1β−/− then showed greater NaV1.5 expression than young WT ventricles. However, neither age nor Pgc-1β deletion affected Cx43 expression, independently or through interacting effects in both WB and IF studies. Conclusion: Similar pro-arrhythmic atrial/ventricular phenotypes arise in aged/Pgc-1β−/− from differing contributions of altered protein expression and functional effects that may arise from multiple acute mechanisms.
Highlights
Ageing and chronic metabolic disorders are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and cardiac pro-arrhythmic phenotypes which were recently attributed to slowed atrial and ventricular action potential (AP) conduction in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ co-activator deficient (Pgc-1β−/−) mice
We measured and compared expression levels of NaV1.5, connexin 40 (Cx40) and connexin 43 (Cx43) in atria and ventricles from four experimental, young and aged, WT and Pgc-1β−/− mouse groups in a 2 × 2 factorial design, matching ose adopted in the previous electrophysiological studies statistically testing for independent or interacting effects on these of increased age and Pgc-1β−/− genotype [36,37,38]
The experiments in the present study explored the extent to which altered molecular NaV1.5, Cx40 and Cx43 expression as opposed to functional effects might contribute to the observed pro-arrhythmic electrophysiological phenotypes in ageing and Pgc-1β−/−, atria and ventricles
Summary
Ageing and chronic metabolic disorders are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and cardiac pro-arrhythmic phenotypes which were recently attributed to slowed atrial and ventricular action potential (AP) conduction in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ co-activator deficient (Pgc-1β−/−) mice. Methods: We compared expression levels of voltage-gated Na+ channel (NaV1.5) and gap junction channels, Connexins 40 and 43 (Cx40 and Cx43) in the hearts of young and old, and wild-type (WT) and Pgc-1β−/− mice This employed Western blotting (WB) for NaV1.5, Cx40 and Cx43 in atrial/ventricular tissue lysates, and immunofluorescence (IF) from Cx43 was explored in tissue sections. Conclusion: Similar pro-arrhythmic atrial/ventricular phenotypes arise in aged/Pgc-1β−/− from differing contributions of altered protein expression and functional effects that may arise from multiple acute mechanisms. Both increased age and metabolic disorders, the latter themselves age-dependent, and associated with physical inactivity [1], obesity [2], diabetes mellitus [3] and metabolic syndrome [4] constitute cardiac health issues of increasing clinical importance. Experimental studies in the mouse-related genetic defects increasing levels of somatic mtDNA mutations to License 4.0 (CC BY)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
