Myocyte and nonmyocyte RNA polymerase activity and chromatin template function

Myocardial and nonmyocardial cell nuclei were isolated from ventricles of adult male Wistar rats by means of sucrose density centrifugation. RNA polymerase activity in myocyte nuclei was approximately 80-90% higher than in nonmyocytes. Total myocyte chromatin template activity using Escherichia coli RNA polymerase was linear and about onefold greater than the nonmyocyte fraction over a fivefold range of chromatin concentrations. Preincubation time required for RNA polymerase to form a stable binding complex with chromatin was at least 40 min for myocyte and 30 min for nonmyocyte nuclear subsets. Titration of chromatin against a fixed amount of RNA polymerase (5 micrograms) showed that 5 micrograms of myocyte chromatin (as DNA) and 8 micrograms of nonmyocyte chromatin (as DNA), respectively, were required to saturate the enzyme. These results indicate that myocyte chromatin can support greater enzyme binding than can nonmyocyte chromatin. The distribution of DNA fragments from isolated myocyte and nonmyocyte nuclei were similar when alkaline sucrose density centrifugation was used. Chromatin prepared from these nuclear subsets showed no difference in degree of DNA fragmentation. These observations indicate that compared with nonmuscle cells, myocytes from adult rat hearts have higher RNA polymerase activity, greater overall chromatin template function, and higher binding capacity for RNA polymerase. Collectively, these data suggest that adult cardiac muscle cells should have a larger potential for RNA synthesis than nonmuscle cells.

Protein synthesis in compensatory hypertrophy of rat plantaris

Protein synthesis in rat plantaris muscle undergoing surgically induced hypertrophy was studied using a perfused hindquarter preparation. The tissue mass of the hypertrophied muscle increased 11, 33, 33, and 104% at 2, 5, 15, and 50 days postsurgery. Total tissue protein synthesis was unchanged during the early phase but was significantly elevated after 15 and 50 days of work overload. Myosin synthesis was also significantly elevated after 15 and 50 days of hypertrophic growth. Increases in muscle protein content (milligrams per muscle) for each protein fraction examined were temporally in step with the altered synthetic rates. The shift in muscle fibre-type profile from approximately 10% alkaline-labile fibres in the control muscle to about 25% alkaline-labile fibres in the hypertrophied muscle also followed a similar time course. These data suggest that during compensatory hypertrophy, enhanced protein synthesis may be the dominant mechanism for the massive accumulation of muscle protein. However, its contribution to muscle growth does not become evident until about 15 days after the initial growth stimulus.

Regression of isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy

Cardiac hypertrophy was induced in adult female Wistar rats after 8 days of daily subcutaneous injections of isoproterenol (ISO). Regression from hypertrophy was studied following 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 20 days of ISO withdrawal. After 8 days of treatment cardiac mass increased 40%. Following ISO withdrawal, ventricular regression occurred during the first 8 days. After 12-20 days of recovery, a new steady-state heart weight to body weight ratio was established that was 12-13% above the controls. The half-time recovery for heart weight was 3.8 days. Ventricular RNA content was stimulated 76% after 8 days of ISO-induced hypertrophy. During regression RNA content decreased rapidly during the first 8 days with a half-time of 3.4 days. Following 20 days of recovery ventricular RNA was still 31% above the controls. However, myocyte RNA was stimulated 86% following 8 days of ISO treatment and returned to control level after 12 days of regression. Myocardial DNA was increased 23% in the hypertrophied hearts and did not change during the recovery period. Hydroxyproline was increased in the ISO-treated hearts and decreased only slightly during the recovery interval. These data indicate that ISO-induced hypertrophy was reversible while ventricular RNA content only partially recovered. Nevertheless, myocyte RNA showed a large stimulation that was completely reversible at least after 12 days of recovery.

Development of isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy

The development of cardiac hypertrophy was studied in adult female Wistar rats following daily subcutaneous injections of isoproterenol (ISO) (0.3 mg/kg body weight). A time course was established for the change in tissue mass, RNA and DNA content, as well as hydroxyproline content. Heart weight increased 44% after 8 days of treatment with a half time of 3.4 days. Ventricular RNA content was elevated 26% after 24 h of a single injection and reached a maximal level following 8 days of therapy. The half time for RNA accumulation was 2.0 days. The total content of hydroxyproline remained stable during the first 2 days of treatment but increased 46% after 4 days of therapy. Ventricular DNA content was unchanged during the early stage (1-4 days) of hypertrophic growth but increased to a new steady-state level 19% above the controls after 8 days of treatment. Intraventricular pressures and coronary flow measures were similar for control and experimental animals following 4 days of developed hypertrophy. However, dP/dt in the ISO-treated hearts was slightly but significantly (P less than 0.05) elevated. These data indicate that the adaptive response to ISO shows an early hypertrophic phase (1-4 days) characterized by a substantial increase in RNA content and cardiac mass in the absence of changes in DNA. However, prolonged stimulation (8-12 days) appears to represent a complex integration of both cellular hypertrophy and hyperplasia within the heart.