Abstract:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of
NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester and thyroxine on the distribution
of cardiac myosin heavy chains in mice. Myocardial
hypertrophy was induced in mice by intraperitoneal injection
with L-thyroxine and oral administration of NG-nitro-L-arginine
methyl ester (L-NAME). Mice were randomly allocated
into five groups: control, high and low doses of thyroxine and
L-NAME. Heart weight divided by body weight was calculated
and used as indicator for cardiac hypertrophy. Myosin
heavy chains (MHCs) were separated using 4 % polyacrylamide
gel electrophoresis. Hypertrophy was induced in mice
treated with thyroxine and a high dose of L-NAME and was
accompanied by a shift toward ?-MHC in thyroxine-treated
mice and ?-MHC in L-NAME-treated mice. There was no
difference with respect to MHC between a low dose of LNAME
and a high dose; however, low doses of L-NAME did
not result in cardiac hypertrophy. In conclusion, L-NAME
treatment changes the MHC distribution from ?- toward ?-
MHC and this transition in the MHCs occurs before heart
hypertrophy. Further investigations are needed to determine
whether L-NAME treatment causes this transition via a direct
or indirect effect on the heart muscles.