title: Hyperosmotic and thermal stresses activate p38-MAPK in the perfused amphibian heart.
abstract: We assessed the activation of p38-MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) by osmotic and thermal stresses in the isolated perfused amphibian (Rana ridibunda) heart. Hyperosmotic stress induced the rapid activation of the kinase. In particular, in the presence of 0.5 mol l(-1) sorbitol, p38-MAPK was maximally phosphorylated (by approximately twelvefold) at 15 min, while excess of NaCl (206 mmol l(-1) final concentration) or KCl (16 mmol l(-1) final concentration) stimulated a less potent activation, maximised (by approximately eightfold and fourfold) within 2 min and 30 s, respectively, relative to control values. The effect of all three compounds examined was reversible, since the kinase phosphorylation levels decreased upon reperfusion of the heart with normal bicarbonate-buffered saline. Conversely, hypotonicity did not induce any p38-MAPK activation. Furthermore, both hypothermia and hyperthermia induced considerable phosphorylation of the kinase, by four- and 7.5-fold, respectively, relative to control values. Immunohistochemical studies elucidated the localisation pattern of phospho-p38-MAPK and also revealed enhanced atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) immunoreactivity in osmotically stressed hearts. Interestingly, SB 203580 (1 micromol l(-1)) not only completely blocked the activation of p38-MAPK by all these interventions, but also abolished the enhanced ANP immunoreactivity induced by 0.5 mol l(-1) sorbitol. These findings indicate the possible involvement of ANP in the mechanisms regulating responses under such stressful conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Human Physiology, School of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens 157 84, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioanna-Katerina S
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Aggeli
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaitanaki
authors.forename: Antigone
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lazou
authors.forename: Isidoros
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Beis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000201:enzymology*; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011895:Rana ridibunda; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000494:pharmacology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013696:Temperature; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles; D011725:Pyridines; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013012:Sorbitol; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C093642:SB 203580