Augmented expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the atria parasympathetically decreases heart rate during acute myocardial infarction in rats.
BACKGROUND
Nitric oxide (NO) synthesized within sinoatrial cells recently has been shown to participate in the autonomic control of heart rate. We hypothesized that NO in the neuronal cells in the heart was increased and parasympathetically regulated heart rate after myocardial infarction (MI).


RESULTS
We examined heart rate dynamics and neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) expression and activities in the atria of rats with MI 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after MI (n=7 to 22 for each group). Both the mRNA levels of nNOS in the atria determined by competitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and the protein levels determined by Western blotting were significantly increased compared with controls 1, 3, and 7 days after MI. nNOS activity in the atria 1 day after infarction was also increased in MI rats. nNOS immunoreactivity was observed in nerve fibers in the atria. After infusion of a specific inhibitor of nNOS and iNOS, 1-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl) imidazole (TRIM) (50 mg/kg IV), heart rate was significantly (P<0.01) increased in MI rats compared with controls 1, 3, and 7 days after MI. The iNOS-specific inhibitor, 1400W (10 mg/kg SC), did not significantly affect the heart rate in rats with MI. The effect of TRIM was abolished by pretreatment with L-arginine (25 mg/kg IV) or by parasympathetic blockade with atropine but not by propranolol. There was a strong correlation (r=0.837, P<0.0001) between the nNOS protein expression and heart rate change after TRIM infusion.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that increased nNOS parasympathetically decreased heart rate via the production of NO in rats with acute MI.
Takimoto
Yoshihito
Y
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Aoyama
Takeshi
T
Tanaka
Koichi
K
Keyamura
Reiko
R
Yui
Yoshiki
Y
Sasayama
Shigetake
S
D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001835:Body Weight; D004452:Echocardiography; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000201:enzymology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D009929:Organ Size; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C098186:1-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl)imidazole; D001285:Atropine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; C496322:Nos1 protein, rat