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Ontogenetic changes of lipofuscin-like pigments in the rat heart
1Centre for Cardiovascular Research, Prague, Czech Republic. wilhelm@biomed.cas.cz
Insights
Lipofuscin-like pigments (LFP) significantly increase in rat hearts post-birth, remaining elevated even at 60 days. Male rat hearts showed higher LFP concentrations on day 30 compared to females.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Reactive oxygen species (ROS) lead to the formation of lipofuscin-like pigments (LFP), which are fluorescent end-products of lipid peroxidation.
- LFP levels in the rat heart increase substantially immediately after birth, up to six-fold compared to fetal values.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental changes in LFP levels in rat hearts from fetal to postnatal stages.
- To compare LFP concentrations between male and female rat hearts at different postnatal time points.
- To analyze specific LFP fluorophores and their changes over time and between sexes.
Main Methods:
- Fetal rat hearts were sampled one day before birth.
- Postnatal samples were collected on days 1, 4, 7, 10, 15, 30, and 60.
- Four distinct LFP fluorophores (F355/440, F310/470, F350/450, F315/450) were analyzed using their excitation/emission wavelengths (nm).
- Ventricular differences between right and left ventricles were studied on days 30 and 60.
Main Results:
- All analyzed LFP fluorophores initially decreased on day 4 relative to day 1.
- Subsequent transient increases were followed by a significant decrease by day 60, though LFP levels remained threefold higher than fetal values.
- On day 30, male hearts exhibited approximately one-third higher LFP concentrations than female hearts.
- This sex-based difference was transient, with no significant difference observed on day 60.
- A notable finding in male hearts was a sharp decrease in LFP in the right ventricle on day 60.
Conclusions:
- Rat heart LFP levels undergo significant developmental changes post-birth, with a sustained increase compared to fetal levels.
- Sex-specific differences in LFP accumulation exist in young postnatal hearts, diminishing by day 60.
- The study highlights dynamic alterations in lipid peroxidation end-products during cardiac development and aging, with potential sex-dependent mechanisms.
Abstract:
Increased generation of reactive oxygen species results in the formation of fluorescent end-products of lipid peroxidation - lipofuscin-like pigments (LFP). LFP increased up to six-fold from the fetal value in the rat heart immediately after birth. In the experimental design of this study the fetuses were sampled 1 day before birth, and then the samples were collected on postnatal days 1, 4, 7, 10, 15, 30, and 60. Males and females were compared on day 30 and 60 when the difference between right and left ventricle was studied as well. Four LFP fluorophores were analyzed: F355/440, F310/470, F350/450, F315/450 (excitation/emission, nm). All fluorophores decreased on day 4 relative to day 1, subsequent transient increases ended in a significant decrease on day 60. However, the LFP levels on day 60 are still about threefold higher than those in fetuses. Differences between male and female hearts were observed on day 30. The corresponding male ventricles contained by one third higher concentration of LFP than the female counterparts. The increase in LFP concentration in male ventricles on day 30 was only transient, no difference between corresponding male and female ventricles was found on day 60. The most distinguished feature in the male heart was a sharp LFP decrease in the right ventricle on day 60.
