title: Alterations in alpha adrenoreceptor density and localization after mechanical left ventricular unloading with the Jarvik flowmaker left ventricular assist device.
abstract: Cardiac alpha one adrenoreceptors (alpha(1)AR) are known to mediate positive inotropism in human ventricular myocardium. In the early stages of heart failure, ventricular contractility is maintained by adrenergic stimulation, rennin-angiotensin activation, and other neurohormonal and cytokine system responses. As the disease progresses, however, these compensatory mechanisms cease to provide benefit; ventricular dilation and fibrosis occur and cardiac function deteriorates. When ventricular contractility becomes severely depressed and is no longer responsive to inotropic support, insertion of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) may allow the left ventricle to rest, remodel, and recover some contractile function. Our previous work has demonstrated that the myocardium has the capacity to repair itself during a period of unloading, after which some patients are able to resume a normal lifestyle and no longer need a cardiac transplant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Anesthesiology, Texas Heart Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. agrigore@heart.thi.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grigore
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Poindexter
authors.forename: William K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Vaughn
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nussmeier
authors.forename: O H
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Frazier
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Igor D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Gregoric
authors.forename: L Maximilian
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Buja
authors.forename: Roger J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Bick
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D032342:Muscle Cells / Q000473:pathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1