L-arginine administration recovers sarcoplasmic reticulum function in ischemic reperfused hearts by preventing calpain activation.

OBJECTIVE Earlier studies have shown that impaired cardiac contractility in ischemia reperfusion (IR) is associated with alterations in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) function. Impaired release of nitric oxide (NO) has been reported during IR, while administration of NO donors, such as L-arginine (LA), has been shown to improve cardiac performance in IR hearts. We therefore investigated the mechanisms underlying the recovery of contractile function in IR hearts treated with LA. METHODS Isolated rat hearts subjected to 30 min of global ischemia were reperfused for 60 min. The effects of LA on cardiac performance, SR function and its regulation were examined. RESULTS IR-induced impairment in cardiac performance was associated with a reduction in SR function and its regulation. IR caused an increase in calpain activity and a decrease in the sarcolemmal and SR nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoform protein content as well as cytosolic NO levels. Administration of LA prevented contractile dysfunction in IR hearts, which was associated with a recovery of SR function and SR regulation by protein phosphorylation. This was consistent with a recovery in protein levels of major SR Ca2+-cycling and Ca2+-regulatory proteins. LA treatment attenuated an increase in calpain activity, possibly by nitrosylation of calpain, and increased cytosolic NO levels and SR NOS protein content in IR hearts. DISCUSSION These results suggest that LA administration improved cardiac contractility by preventing alterations in SR Ca2+ handling and calpain activation in IR hearts.