title: Beta-adrenergic receptors and the Gs protein in myocardial ischemia and injury.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore alterations in the life cycle of adrenergic receptors and the Gs protein in the heart of ischemic animals. In initial experiments left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion was performed in guinea pigs. Sarcolemmal (SL) and light vesicle (LV) (presumably intracellular) fractions were prepared. Both fractions contained a substantial number of beta-adrenergic receptors and alpha 1-adrenergic receptors: the relative proportion of beta-adrenergic receptors in LV/SL was greater than for alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. Myocardial ischemia produced a rapid externalization of beta-adrenergic receptors from LV to SL. alpha 1-adrenergic receptors also increased in SL but without an apparent externalization from LV. Pretreatment of animals with either the non-selective beta-antagonist propranolol or the beta 1-selective antagonist atenolol increased the number of SL beta-receptors and blunted the ischemia-induced increase in SL beta-adrenergic receptors. Treatment with the partial agonist pindolol did not cause up-regulation of beta-receptors, and did not block ischemia-induced externalization. In the second part of this study, we have begun to examine post-receptor events in a rat model of myocardial ischemia. Ligation of the distal left main coronary artery in the rat led to an increase in SL beta-receptors. As G proteins play a pivotal role in transducing receptor occupancy to activation of effector molecules, we measured levels of Gs which stimulates adenylate cyclase activity, using an ELISA technique. In rat SL the amount of alpha s markedly decreased within 15 min of coronary occlusion. There was no transfer of Gs activity to the light vesicle fraction. These studies indicate the dynamic nature of adrenergic receptors and the alpha s protein in the sarcolemma in myocardial ischemia. Changes in adrenergic receptor number and in G protein expression may contribute to the altered pathophysiology of the ischemic heart.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Maisel
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ransnäs
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Insel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D012508:Sarcolemma / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins