Important role of endogenous norepinephrine and epinephrine in the development of in vivo pressure-overload cardiac hypertrophy

OBJECTIVES We sought to define the role of norepinephrine and epinephrine in the development of cardiac hypertrophy and to determine whether the absence of circulating catecholamines alters the activation of downstream myocardial signaling pathways. BACKGROUND Cardiac hypertrophy is associated with elevated plasma catecholamine levels and an increase in cardiac morbidity and mortality. Although considerable evidence suggests that G-protein–coupled receptors are involved in the hypertrophic response, it remains controversial whether catecholamines are required for the development of in vivo cardiac hypertrophy. METHODS We performed transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in dopamine beta-hydroxylase knockout mice (Dbh−/−, genetically altered mice that are completely devoid of endogenous norepinephrine and epinephrine) and littermate control mice. After induction of cardiac hypertrophy, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways were measured in pressure-overloaded/wild-type and Dbh−/− hearts. RESULTS Compared with the control animals, cardiac hypertrophy was significantly blunted in Dbh−/− mice, which was not associated with altered cardiac function, as assessed by transthoracic echocardiography in conscious mice. The extracellularly regulated kinase (ERK 1/2), c-jun–NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK pathways were all activated by two- to threefold after TAC in the control animals. In contrast, induction of the three pathways (ERK 1/2, JNK and p38) was completely abolished in Dbh−/− mice. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate a nearly complete requirement of endogenous norepinephrine and epinephrine for the induction of in vivo pressure-overload cardiac hypertrophy and for the activation of hypertrophic signaling pathways.