title: Urotensin II induces hypertrophic responses in cultured cardiomyocytes from neonatal rats.
abstract: Urotensin II (UII), a cyclic neuropeptide, functions not only in the central nervous system but also in non-neural systems including cardiovascular systems. In the present study we examined whether UII regulates hypertrophy in cardiomyocytes. The exposure of cultured cardiomyocytes from neonatal rats to UII dose-dependently activated extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), important molecules in the development of cardiac hypertrophy. ERK activation by UII at 100 nM peaked at 8 min after stimulation. UII markedly induced expression of specific genes encoding atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide, and significantly increased amino acid incorporation into proteins. Incubation of cardiomyocytes with UII increased cell size and myofibril organisation. UII, then, might participate in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D048429:Cell Size; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D015870:Gene Expression; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014579:Urotensins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D014579:Urotensins; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D010649:Phenylalanine; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; C029677:urotensin II; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases