A biphasic change in contractile proteins during the development of cardiac hypertrophy in pigs

Summary A non-failing hypertrophy of the left ventricle was produced in the pig heart by supravalvular banding of aorta for 4, 8 and 12 weeks and the myosin and myofibrillar adenosine triphosphatase activities were measured. A significant increase in myosin Ca²⁺-ATPase activity was seen at 4 weeks of hypertrophy, but at 8 and 12 weeks this activity was significantly decreased compared to sham control. Similar changes were also seen in actin-activated myosin ATPase activities at 4, 8 and 12 weeks of hypertrophy. There were no changes in the K⁺- and NH₄⁺-EDTA-stimulated ATPase activities of myosin. Basal ATPase activities of myofibrils were decreased at 4 and 8 weeks of hypertrophy and there was no change in this activity at 12 weeks of hypertrophy. Ca²⁺ stimulated ATPase activity of myofibrils was significantly increased at 4 weeks, normal at 8 weeks and significantly reduced at 12 weeks of hypertrophy. The changes in ATPase activities were not due to any alterations of proteins by high concentrations of salts during the purification of myosin. The non-hypertrophied right ventricle from the banded animals did not show any change in the basal or Ca²⁺ stimulated myofibrillar ATPase activities. It is suggested that hypertrophy of the myocardium is accompanied by specific changes in the enzyme activities of the contractile proteins and the biphasic responses may correlate with the functional state of the myocardium subjected to a chronic increase in pressure.This investigation was supported by a grant from the Medical Research Council of Canada. Dr. Panagia is a Manitoba Heart Foundation Scholar and Dr. Singal is a Canadian Heart Foundation Scholar.