title: Proto-oncogene fos (c-fos) expression in the heart.
abstract: Administration of the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol led to a marked rapid increase in the steady-state level of c-fos mRNA in the heart of mice, rats, and Syrian hamsters. Stimulation of c-fos expression by isoproterenol was inhibited by the beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol. An increase in Ca2+ influx through voltage-dependent calcium channels is probably not required for the activation of the c-fos gene by isoproterenol since the calcium channel blockers verapamil, nifedipine, and diltiazem had no effect on the induction of c-fos by the drug. In the heart of the rat, c-fos expression was also stimulated by the alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine, histamine, and prostaglandin E1. The histamine-induced expression of the c-fos gene was blocked by the histamine H1-receptor antagonist pyrilamine but not by H2-receptor antagonists ranitidine and cimetidine. It is concluded that in the heart, hormones which increase cAMP and cytosolic Ca2+, such as beta-adrenergic agonists and prostaglandin E1, and/or stimulate the turnover of inositol phospholipids, such as alpha-adrenergic agonists and histamine H1-receptor agonists, regulate c-fos gene expression. The fos protein is likely to play a role in the mechanisms of neurotransmitters and hormones that modulate the functioning of the heart and of cardiac hypertrophy, degeneration and necrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, City University of New York, New York 10029.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Barka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van der Noen
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Shaw
mesh_terms: D000527:Alprostadil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D006224:Cricetinae; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005934:Glucagon / Q000494:pharmacology; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006632:Histamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D013566:Sympathomimetics / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013566:Sympathomimetics; D006632:Histamine; D005934:Glucagon; D000527:Alprostadil