title: Comparative effects of urocortins and stresscopin on cardiac myocyte contractility.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a current need for the development of new therapies for patients with heart failure.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We test the effects of members of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family of peptides on myocyte contractility to validate them as potential heart failure therapeutics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adult feline left ventricular myocytes (AFMs) were isolated and contractility was assessed in the presence and absence of CRF peptides Urocortin 2 (UCN2), Urocortin 3 (UCN3), Stresscopin (SCP), and the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (Iso). An increase in fractional shortening and peak Ca(2+) transient amplitude was seen in the presence of all CRF peptides. A decrease in Ca(2+) decay rate (Tau) was also observed at all concentrations tested. cAMP generation was measured by ELISA in isolated AFMs in response to the CRF peptides and Iso and significant production was seen at all concentrations and time points tested.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CRF family of peptides effectively increases cardiac contractility and should be evaluated as potential novel therapeutics for heart failure patients.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA; Department of Physiology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Makarewich
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA; Department of Physiology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
authors.forename: Constantine D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Troupes
authors.affiliation: Center for Translational Research, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA; Department of Physiology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
authors.forename: Polina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.affiliation: Center for Translational Research, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
authors.forename: Walter J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Spring House, PA 19044, USA.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Crandall
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA; Department of Physiology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA. Electronic address: srhouser@temple.edu.
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Houser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D054832:Urocortins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D054832:Urocortins; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone
keywords: Calcium; Contractility; Corticotropin-releasing factor; Heart failure; Urocortin