Alterations in cardiac myosin isoenzymes distribution as an adaptation to chronic environmental heat stress in the rat.

The distribution of cardiac myosin isoenzymes, using gel pyrophosphate electrophoresis, was studied in laboratory rats during acclimation to heat (34 degrees C, 0-2 month) with and without daily administration of triiodotyronin (0.3 micrograms/100 g b.wt) Thyroxin (T4) and triiodotyronin (T3) concentrations during that period were measured in the acclimated rats as well. Control rats exhibited only the V1 myosin form during the entire experimental period. In the heat acclimated rats, after three weeks of acclimation, in addition to the V1 band, bands of V2 and V3 myosin forms appeared. After the fourth week of acclimation V3 became the dominant myosin. Changes in the cardiac isoenzymes distribution occurred 1 week after a significant decrease in T3 was recorded. Administration of additional thyroxin dose didn't allow the development of V3 band in the heat acclimated rats. It was concluded that the changes observed in cardiac isoenzymes distribution could be related to an alteration in thyroid activity and that these changes could play a role in the adaptation of the cardiac muscle to chronic heat.