Transgenic manipulation of beta-adrenergic receptor kinase modifies cardiac myocyte contraction to norepinephrine

To determine the direct functional significance of the beta-adrenergic receptor (AR) kinase 1 (beta ARK1) on myocardial performance in the absence of tonic sympathoadrenal neural activation and mechanical loading, we measured the contractile responses to acute beta 1-AR stimulation in left ventricular myocytes isolated from nontransgenic control (NTG) and transgenic mice overexpressing either beta ARK1 (TG beta K12) or a beta ARK1 inhibitor (TGMini27). Contractile response to five concentrations (10(-8)-10(-7) M) of the beta 1-AR agonist norepinephrine (NE) plus prazosin (10(-6) M) was measured after a 60-s rest, i.e., rested-state contraction (RSC), and during steady-state contraction (SSC) stimulation at 0.5 Hz (23 degrees C). At baseline, resting cell length was significantly greater in TG beta K12 myocytes (P < 0.05); however, there were no significant differences in RSC or SSC among NTG, TG beta K12, or TG Mini27 mice. On the other hand, both the dose-response curve and kinetics for the NE-induced SSC response normalized to RSC (SSC/RSC) were significantly different among experimental groups (P < 0.001). Specifically, maximal SSC induced by NE in myocytes isolated from TG beta K12 was only 70% of the response observed in NTG cells and 50% of the response measured in TGMini27. These data suggest that 1) in the absence of circulating catecholamines or basal sympathetic tone, beta ARK1 actions in single myocytes are minimal, and 2) substantial functional beta ARK1 modulation of beta 1-AR signaling occurs in cardiac myocytes even during short-term beta 1-AR stimulation. These results are consistent with a role for agonist-induced phosphorylation and desensitization of cardiac beta 1-ARs by beta ARK1 in single myocytes and highlight the potential functional importance of beta ARK1 as a critical determinant of the cardiac beta 1-AR contractile response.