Abstract

This study investigated whether long-term administration of isoproterenol (ISO) induces differential expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in lung, plasma, and left ventricle (LV) during development of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and myocardial fibrosis. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 7-9 per group) were treated with isoproterenol (ISO) 5 mg/kg per day for 10 days or saline and examined at 1, 15, and 33 days after the last injection. ISO stimulated the development of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH); relative LV weight (mg LV 100/body weight), LV protein content, and LV ?-myosin heavy chain levels increased at day 1. LVH regressed at days 15 and 33. ISO also increased myocardial fibrosis (assessed by hydroxyproline content and morphometry) at days 15 and 33. There no were changes in arterial blood pressure. Long-term ?-adrenergic stimulation with ISO increased ACE expression in lung, LV, and plasma during development of LVH and myocardial fibrosis. However, time courses were markedly different. ISO stimulated a sustained increase in lung and plasma ACE activities, whereas ISO induced a high LV ACE. Plasma ACE activity paralleled lung ACE activity. LV ACE activity correlated with ACE mRNA levels and paralleled development of LVH. Our data suggest long-term ?-adrenergic stimulation induced a differential temporal expression of LV, lung, and plasma ACE in rat during development of LVH and myocardial fibrosis.