Effects of growth hormone on cardiac remodeling and soleus muscle in rats with aortic stenosis-induced heart failure

• Published in: Oncotarget Vol. 8; no. 47; pp. 83009 - 83021
• Main Authors: Lima, Aline R R, Pagan, Luana U, Damatto, Ricardo L, Cezar, Marcelo D M, Bonomo, Camila, Gomes, Mariana J, Martinez, Paula F, Guizoni, Daniele M, Campos, Dijon H S, Damatto, Felipe C, Okoshi, Katashi, Okoshi, Marina P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Impact Journals LLC 10-10-2017
• Subjects: Research Paper; muscle trophicity; heart failure; growth hormone; skeletal muscle; satellite cells
• ISSN: 1949-2553; 1949-2553
• DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.20583

Skeletal muscle wasting is often observed in heart failure (HF). The growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) axis is impaired in HF. In this study, we evaluated the effects of GH on soleus muscle and cardiac remodeling in rats with aortic stenosis (AS)-induced HF.
AS was created by placing a stainless-steel clip on the ascending aorta. After clinically detecting HF, GH (2 mg/kg/day) was subcutaneously injected for 14 days (AS-GH group). Results were compared with those from Sham and non-treated AS groups. Transthoracic echocardiogram was performed before and after treatment. Protein expression was evaluated by Western blot and satellite cells activation by immunofluorescence. Statistical analyzes: ANOVA and Tukey or Kruskal-Wallis and Student-Newman-Keuls.
Before treatment both AS groups presented a similar degree of cardiac injury. GH prevented body weight loss and attenuated systolic dysfunction. Soleus cross-sectional fiber areas were lower in both AS groups than Sham (Sham 3,556±447; AS 2,882±422; AS-GH 2,868±591 μm
; p=0.016). GH increased IGF-1 serum concentration (Sham 938±83; AS 866±116; AS-GH 1167±166 ng/mL; p<0.0001) and IGF-1 muscle protein expression and activated PI3K protein. Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) immunofluorescence was increased in both AS groups. Catabolism-related intracellular pathways did not differ between groups.
Short-term growth hormone attenuates left ventricular systolic dysfunction in rats with aortic stenosis-induced HF. Despite preserving body weight, increasing serum and muscular IGF-1 levels, and stimulating PI3K muscle expression, GH does not modulate soleus muscle trophism, satellite cells activation or intracellular pathways associated with muscle catabolism.