Non-coordinate expression of collagen mRNAs during carbon monoxide-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

Collagen gene expression during volume overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy was investigated in adult male rats. Hypertrophy of the left ventricle (22%) and right ventricle (37%) occurred following 27 days continuous exposure to 700 ppm carbon monoxide; hematocrit increased nearly 47%. To examine potential cellular and molecular control of restructuring in the heart, we investigated the expression of two specific procollagen mRNAs for collagen types which have different structural-functional roles [Type I (alpha-1) & Type IV].

Differences in myosin isoform expression in the subepicardial and subendocardial myocardium during cardiac hypertrophy in the rat.

We have investigated myosin isoform expression during progressive cardiac hypertrophy and the development of congestive heart failure in young male rats. Cardiac enlargement was produced by placing a constricting band (0.024-inch diameter) around the ascending aorta of 25-day-old animals, which resulted in progressively increased stenosis as the rat matured.

In vitro differentiation of rabbit blastocyst cells.

Six- and seven-day post-coitus (p.c.) rabbit embryos have been cultured in an attempt to establish a trophectodermal cell line.

Differentiation of adult rat cardiac myocytes in cell culture.

Cardiac myocytes isolated from adult rat hearts were grown on laminin coated culture dishes for more than a month. During this time, the cells underwent a morphological transformation which has also been referred to by others as cell remodeling (Guo J-X, Jacobson SL, Brown DL: Cell Mot Cytoskeleton 1986;6:291-304). This results in a change in myocyte morphology from its typical in vivo cylindrical shape to one which is more pleiomorphic.

Coordinated changes in contractility, energetics, and isomyosins after aortic stenosis.

To investigate possible alterations of myocardial performance in young rats, cardiac hypertrophy was induced by stenosis of the ascending aorta (AS) in three groups of 25-day-old rats that were compared with three groups of sham-operated controls (C). The cardiac overload duration was 8-10 days, 1 mo, and 2 mo in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Mechanics and energetics were studied in left ventricular papillary muscles, and determination of the V1 and V3 isomyosin pattern was achieved in the same papillary muscle.