Inhibition of Cyclophilin D Rescues Cardiac Function and Bioenergetic Defects Caused by Neonatal Hypoxia

Increased oxygen levels at birth regulate myocyte bioenergetic and structural maturation controlled by mitochondrial cyclophilin D (CypD). We evaluated mechanisms of neonatal hypoxic cardiac dysfunction by exposing neonatal mice to 12% oxygen and studied cardiac bioenergetics, myocyte maturation, and function. Hypoxia decreased the activity/assembly of electron transport chain complex I, uncoupled oxidative phosphorylation, increased proliferation, decreased differentiation, increased ventricular mass, and decreased cardiac function. CypD inhibition rescued most hypoxia-mediated effects and increased cardiac function. In conclusion, neonatal hypoxia alters cardiac bioenergetics, myocyte maturation, and cardiac function through CypD-dependent pathways, providing potential therapeutic targets for neonatal cardiac dysfunction.