Role of Oxytocin and C-Myc Pathway in Cardiac Remodeling in Neonatal Rats Undergoing Cardiac Apical Resection Publisher Pubmed



Khori V¹ ; Mohammad Zadeh F¹ ; Tavakolifar B² ; Alizadeh AM^{3, 4} ; Khalighfard S^{4, 5} ; Ghandian Zanjan M¹ ; Gharghi M¹ ; Khodayari S^{5, 6} ; Khodayari H^{5, 6} ; Keshavarz P⁷ Show Affiliations
Source: European Journal of Pharmacology Published:2021

Abstract

Oxytocin (OT) is a nonapeptide hormone that can improve cardiomyocyte proliferation, suggesting a potential heart regeneration function. Here, we investigated the role of oxytocin and the c-Myc pathway in cardiac remodeling in neonatal rats undergoing cardiac apical resection. We have utilized a knockout of oxytocin receptor (OTR) with OTR-shRNA. A neonatal rat model of cardiac resection (≈10%–15%) was first established. The protein levels of OTR and c-Myc and the expression of cyclin d1 and c-Myc genes were then evaluated in the cardiac tissues at 1, 7, and 21 days after cardiac resection. We also analyzed the proliferation of cardiomyocytes through α-actinin, BrdU, and ki-67 markers. At last, the hemodynamic and electrophysiologic functions were evaluated eight weeks after cardiac resection. At 21 days, the regeneration of cardiomyocytes was repaired among rats in the control and resection groups, while OTR-shRNA groups were failed to improve. Inhibition of OTR failed cardiac regeneration and reduced the number of proliferating cardiomyocytes. The c-Myc protein was significantly reduced in the OTR-shRNA injection hearts. Moreover, we have severely found a depressed heart function in the OTR-shRNA injection animals. These observations revealed that the OT must improve cardiac remodeling in neonatal rat hearts by regulating the c-Myc pathway. © 2021 Elsevier B.V.