BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) produced by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) plays an important role in the regulation of cell growth, apoptosis, and tissue perfusion. Recent studies showed that mice deficient in eNOS developed abnormal aortic bicuspid valves. The aim of the present study was to additionally investigate the role of eNOS in heart development. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined postnatal mortality, cardiac function, and septum defects in eNOS(-/-), eNOS(+/-), and wild-type mice. Postnatal mortality was significantly increased in eNOS(-/-) (85.1%) and eNOS(+/-) (38.3%) compared with wild-type mice (13.3%, P<0.001). Postmortem examination found severe pulmonary congestion with focal alveolar edema in mice deficient in eNOS. Heart shortening determined by ultrasound crystals was significantly decreased in eNOS(-/-) compared with wild-type mice (P<0.05). Congenital atrial and ventricular septal defects were found in neonatal hearts. The incidence of atrial or ventricular septal defects was significantly increased in eNOS(-/-) (75%) and eNOS(+/-) (32.4%) neonates compared with those of the wild-type mice (4.9%). At embryonic days 12.5 and 15.5, cardiomyocyte apoptosis and myocardial caspase-3 activity were increased in the myocardium of eNOS(-/-) compared with wild-type embryos (P<0.01), and increases in apoptosis persisted to neonatal stage in eNOS(-/-) mice. CONCLUSIONS: Deficiency in eNOS results in heart failure and congenital septal defects during cardiac development, which is associated with increases in cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Our data demonstrate that eNOS plays an important role in normal heart development.
BACKGROUND:Nitric oxide (NO) produced by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) plays an important role in the regulation of cell growth, apoptosis, and tissue perfusion. Recent studies showed that mice deficient in eNOS developed abnormal aortic bicuspid valves. The aim of the present study was to additionally investigate the role of eNOS in heart development. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined postnatal mortality, cardiac function, and septum defects in eNOS(-/-), eNOS(+/-), and wild-type mice. Postnatal mortality was significantly increased in eNOS(-/-) (85.1%) and eNOS(+/-) (38.3%) compared with wild-type mice (13.3%, P<0.001). Postmortem examination found severe pulmonary congestion with focal alveolar edema in mice deficient in eNOS. Heart shortening determined by ultrasound crystals was significantly decreased in eNOS(-/-) compared with wild-type mice (P<0.05). Congenital atrial and ventricular septal defects were found in neonatal hearts. The incidence of atrial or ventricular septal defects was significantly increased in eNOS(-/-) (75%) and eNOS(+/-) (32.4%) neonates compared with those of the wild-type mice (4.9%). At embryonic days 12.5 and 15.5, cardiomyocyte apoptosis and myocardial caspase-3 activity were increased in the myocardium of eNOS(-/-) compared with wild-type embryos (P<0.01), and increases in apoptosis persisted to neonatal stage in eNOS(-/-) mice. CONCLUSIONS: Deficiency in eNOS results in heart failure and congenital septal defects during cardiac development, which is associated with increases in cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Our data demonstrate that eNOS plays an important role in normal heart development.
Authors: Shinichi Kanno; Peter K M Kim; Karim Sallam; Jing Lei; Timothy R Billiar; Larry L Shears Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2004-08-10 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Ki Beom Bae; Myoung Ok Kim; Dong Hoon Yu; Mi Jung Shin; Hei Jung Kim; Hyung Soo Yuh; Young Rae Ji; Jae-Young Kim; Jin Man Kim; Byung Hwa Hyun; Hwi Cheul Lee; Won Kyong Chang; Soo Bong Park; Do Hyung Kim; Hyun-Shik Lee; Yeon-Sik Choo; Sanggyu Lee; Zae Young Ryoo Journal: Transgenic Res Date: 2011-01-09 Impact factor: 2.788
Authors: Raja B Singh; Sucheta P Dandekar; Vijayan Elimban; Suresh K Gupta; Naranjan S Dhalla Journal: Mol Cell Biochem Date: 2004-08 Impact factor: 3.396