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Published on: August 30, 2011
Cardiac function in rats with acute renal failure
S C Robinson1, C J Bowmer, M S Yates
1Department of Pharmacology, University of Leeds, UK.
The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
|December 1, 1992
Summary
Acute renal failure (ARF) in rats alters cardiac responses to stimulants. Hearts show impaired calcium handling and mitochondrial function, potentially affecting contractility.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Nephrology
- Mitochondrial Physiology
Background:
- Acute renal failure (ARF) can impact cardiovascular function.
- Understanding cardiac alterations in ARF is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the inotropic responses of cardiac preparations in rats with glycerol-induced ARF.
- To explore the underlying mechanisms of cardiac dysfunction in ARF, focusing on mitochondrial function and calcium handling.
Main Methods:
- Isolated cardiac preparations (left atria, right ventricular strips) from rats with ARF were subjected to various cardiac stimulants.
- Cardiac mitochondrial respiration and oxidative phosphorylation were assessed.
- Pyruvate dehydrogenase activity was measured as an index of mitochondrial calcium levels.
Main Results:
- Left atria showed diminished responses to the calcium agonist Bay K 8644.
- Right ventricular strips exhibited reduced responses to isoprenaline, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, Ca2+, and Bay K 8644.
- ARF induced a 'pseudo' uncoupling of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation without affecting electron transport or cellular energy charge.
- Active pyruvate dehydrogenase levels increased significantly in ARF hearts, indicating altered mitochondrial calcium uptake.
Conclusions:
- Hearts from rats with ARF exhibit altered L-type calcium channel function, specifically the dihydropyridine receptor.
- Defective cellular calcium control in the ventricle, leading to increased mitochondrial calcium uptake, may contribute to depressed cardiac contractility in ARF.
- These findings highlight significant cardiac adaptations in response to acute renal failure.
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