Objective: To investigate the role of calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) on ischemia/reperfusion-induced rat cardiomyocyte apoptosis.
Methods: The isolated rat hearts were subjected to 40 min ischemia followed by 2h of reperfusion with or without CaR agonist GdCl3 at the beginning of reperfusion. Control hearts (without ischemia) and ischemic hearts (40 min ischemia without reperfusion) served as controls. The protein expressions of CaR, Bcl-2 and cyt C were detected by Western blot. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was detected by TUNEL. Mitochondrial potential (Deltaphim) was detected by laser confocal microscopy.
Results: Compared to controls groups, the expressions of CaR and apoptotic cells were significantly increased, Deltaphim and expressions of mitochondria cyt C and Bcl-2 were significantly reduced in ischemia/reperfusion hearts with or without GdCl3.
Conclusion: CaR was involved in the induction of cardiomyocyte apoptosis during ischemia/reperfusion via mitochondrial pathway.