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2091 Manganese enhanced mri demonstrates a predominant role for nNOS, not eNOS, in modulating L-Type calcium channel flux in the heart
Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance volume 10, Article number: A360 (2008)
Introduction
Modulation of L-Type Calcium Channel (LTCC) flux plays an important role in calcium cycling and contractility. Based upon localization within the cardiomyocyte, prevailing opinion is that neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) modulates sarcoplasmic reticular calcium release, while endothelial NOS (eNOS) modulates LTCC flux. Counter to this hypothesis, a recent in vitro study suggests that nNOS modulates LTCC flux. Since Mn2+ enters the myocyte through the LTCC in proportion to Ca2+ flux and shortens T1, Mn-enhanced MRI may be used to probe in vivo LTCC flux.
Methods
Eleven wild type (WT), 8 eNOS-/- and 8 nNOS-/- mice aged 3 months were studied by Mn-enhanced MRI on a 4.7 T MRI system (Varian, CA). Two mid-ventricular short axis slices were acquired using a saturation recovery sequence with a constant repetition time of 200 ms. Images were acquired every 2 to 3 minutes for 20 minutes prior to and 45 minutes following a 30 minute infusion of MnCl2 at a dose of 0.42 ηg/kg·min. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was measured from the entire myocardium for each slice and plotted against time (Figure 1). The portion of the SNR vs. time curve corresponding to MnCl2 infusion was isolated and the slope of the linear fit to that data was used as the LTCC index (LTCCI). Additionally, systolic blood pressure (BP) was measured using a tail cuff system.
Results
Higher BP was found in eNOS-/- mice compared to nNOS-/- (106 ± 4 WT, 111 ± 4 eNOS-/-, 94 ± 3 nNOS-/- p = 0.01 vs. eNOS-/-). Heart rate was similar between all groups (481 ± 18 WT, 470 ± 16 eNOS-/-, 490 ± 29 nNOS-/-, P = NS). LTCCI trended higher in eNOS-/- compared to WT (P = 0.1), but was nearly twice the WT rate in nNOS-/- mice (P < 0.001) (Figure 1). Additionally, LTTCI was significantly greater in nNOS-/- compared to eNOS-/- mice (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
The significantly increased rate of Mn2+ enhancement in nNOS-/- mice represents the first in vivo evidence of modulation of LTCC flux by nNOS. Although eNOS-/- mice showed a trend towards a higher rate of LTCC flux compared to WT, this increase is likely a response to heightened afterload. The absence of heightened BP in nNOS-/- mice paired with an increased LTCCI demonstrates that nNOS, not eNOS, plays a dominant role in modulating LTCC flux.
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Vandsburger, M.H., French, B.A., Helm, P.A. et al. 2091 Manganese enhanced mri demonstrates a predominant role for nNOS, not eNOS, in modulating L-Type calcium channel flux in the heart. J Cardiovasc Magn Reson 10 (Suppl 1), A360 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1186/1532-429X-10-S1-A360
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1532-429X-10-S1-A360
Keywords
- Nitric Oxide
- Calcium Release
- Axis Slice
- Short Axis Slice
- Recovery Sequence