Distinct effects of different β-adrenoceptor stimulation patterns on car-diac AMP-activated protein kinase activity

AIM: To investigate the cardiac AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity and the effects of AMPK activator on cardiac structure and function in the mice with different β-adrenoceptor (β-AR) stimulation patterns. METHODS: Male BALB/c mice were subcutaneously injected with AMPK activator (AICAR, 250 mg· kg^-1·d^-1) or saline, and infused with β-AR agonist isoproterenol (ISO, 5 mg·kg^-1·d^-1) for 14 d. The cardiac functions were evaluated by echocardiography or hemodynamic method, and the hearts were harvested after infusion cessation immediately or 3 d later. Phosphorylated AMPK (p-AMPK) was measured by Western blot. RESULTS: Sustained ISO infusion increased p-AMPK level. AICAR did not further increase p-AMPK but attenuated ISO-induced increase in heart weight. Sustained ISO infusion increased cardiac systolic function as indicated by left ventricular fractional shortening (FS) and maximum rate of pressure rise (+dp/dt_max). The cardiac systolic function was not further increased by AICAR. The cardiac diastolic function as indicated by left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was not different in each group. In contrast, cardiac p-AMPK level was similar between the control mice and the mice with sustained ISO infusion and ceased infusion for 3 d. In this model, AICAR improved the cardiac systolic and diastolic functions, which were impaired by ISO. Moreover, the increased pattern of p-AMPK level was similar with that of heart rate upon ISO stimulation. CONCLUSION: Sustained ISO infusion increases p-AMPK. After ISO infusion cessation for 3 d, p-AMPK is decreased to the basal level. β-AR-induced inotropic effects should be avoided to investigate the cardioprotective role of AMPK activation in the β-AR stimulation models.