title: Decreased adrenergic neuronal uptake activity in experimental right heart failure. A chamber-specific contributor to beta-adrenoceptor downregulation.
abstract: The reduction of myocardial beta-adrenoceptor density in congestive heart failure has been thought to be caused by agonist-induced homologous desensitization. However, recent evidence suggests that excessive adrenergic stimulation may not produce myocardial beta-receptor downregulation unless there is an additional defect in the local norepinephrine (NE) uptake mechanism. To investigate the association between beta-adrenoceptor regulation and NE uptake activity, we carried out studies in 30 dogs with right heart failure (RHF) produced by tricuspid avulsion and progressive pulmonary artery constriction and 23 sham-operated control dogs. We determined NE uptake activity by measuring accumulation of [3H]NE in tissue slices, NE uptake-1 carrier density by [3H]mazindol binding and beta-adrenoceptor density by [3H]dihydroalprenolol binding. Compared with sham-operated dogs, RHF dogs showed a 26% decrease in beta-adrenoceptor density, a 51% reduction in NE uptake activity, and a 57% decrease in NE uptake-1 carrier density in their right ventricles. In addition, right ventricle beta-receptor density correlated significantly with NE uptake activity and NE uptake-1 carrier density. In contrast, neither NE uptake activity nor beta-receptor density in the left ventricle and renal cortex was affected by RHF. Thus, the failing myocardium is associated with an organ- and chamber-specific subnormal neuronal NE uptake. This chamber-specific loss of NE uptake-1 carrier could effectively reduce local NE clearance, and represent a local factor that predisposes the failing ventricle to beta-adrenoceptor downregulation.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, University of Rochester Medical Center, New York 14642.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Sullebarger
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D004285:Dogs; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014439:Tyramine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D009638:Norepinephrine; D014439:Tyramine