Alterations by norepinephrine of cardiac sympathetic nerve terminal function and myocardial beta-adrenergic receptor sensitivity in the ferret: normalization by antioxidant vitamins.
BACKGROUND
Chronic excessive norepinephrine (NE) causes cardiac sympathetic nerve terminal abnormalities, myocardial beta-adrenergic receptor downregulation, and beta-adrenergic subsensitivity. The present study was carried out to determine whether these changes could be prevented by antioxidants.


RESULTS
Ferrets were administered either NE (1.33 mg/d) or vehicle by use of subcutaneous pellets for 4 weeks. Animals were simultaneously assigned to receive either antioxidant vitamins (beta-carotene, ascorbic acid, and alpha-tocopherol) or placebo pellets. NE increased plasma NE 4- to 5-fold but had no effect on heart rate, heart weight, arterial pressure, or left ventricular systolic function. However, myocardial NE uptake activity and NE uptake-1 site density were reduced, as well as cardiac neuronal NE, tyrosine hydroxylase, and neuropeptide Y. In addition, there was a decrease in myocardial beta-adrenergic receptor density with a selective decrease of the beta(1)-receptor subtype, reduction of the high-affinity site for isoproterenol, decreased basal adenylyl cyclase activity, and the adenylyl cyclase responses to isoproterenol, Gpp(NH)p, and forskolin. All of these changes were prevented by antioxidant vitamins. The effects of NE on myocardial beta-adrenergic receptor density, NE uptake-1 carrier site density, and neuronal NE were also prevented by superoxide dismutase or Trolox C.


CONCLUSIONS
The toxic effects of NE on the sympathetic nerve terminals are mediated via the formation of NE-derived oxygen free radicals. Preservation of the neuronal NE reuptake mechanism is functionally important, because the antioxidants also prevented myocardial beta-adrenergic receptor downregulation and postreceptor abnormalities. Thus, antioxidant therapy may be beneficial in heart failure, in which cardiac NE release is increased.
Liang
C
C
Cardiology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, NY 14642-8679, USA. chang-seng_liang@urmc.rochester.edu
Rounds
N K
NK
Dong
E
E
Stevens
S Y
SY
Shite
J
J
Qin
F
F
D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002839:Chromans / Q000494:pharmacology; D005289:Ferrets; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000378:metabolism; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000502:physiology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000494:pharmacology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000975:Antioxidants; D002839:Chromans; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C063471:polyethylene glycol-superoxide dismutase; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; C010643:6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid; D009638:Norepinephrine