Effects of forskolin on inotropic performance and phospholamban phosphorylation in exercise-trained hypertensive myocardium

beta-Adrenergic receptor (beta-AR) responsiveness is downregulated in left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy induced by chronic hypertension. While exercise training in hypertension enhances beta-AR responsiveness, the role of adenylyl cyclase remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was to test whether treadmill running in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) model improves LV responsiveness to forskolin ( FOR) or the combination of FOR + isoproterenol (FOR + ISO). Female SHR (16-wk) were randomly placed into sedentary (SHR-SED; n = 7) or treadmill-trained (SHR-TRD; n = 8) groups. Wistar-Kyoto (WKY; n = 7) animals acted as normotensive controls. Langendorff, isovolumic LV performance was established at baseline and during incremental FOR infusion ( 1 and 5 mu mol/l) and FOR + ISO ( 5 mu mol/l + 1 x 10(-8) mol/l). Heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and heart-to-body weight ratio were lower in WKY relative to both SHR groups ( P < 0.05). LV performance and heart rate significantly increased in all groups to a similar extent with incremental FOR infusion. However, in the presence of 5 mu mol/l FOR, ISO increased LV developed pressure, positive change in LV pressure, and negative change in LV pressure to a greater extent in SHR-TRD relative to SHR-SED ( P < 0.05). Phospholamban phosphorylation at the Thr(17) was greater in SHR-TRD relative to SHR-SED and WKY ( P < 0.05). Absolute LV developed pressure was moderately correlated with phospholamban phosphorylation at both the Ser(16) (r = 0.64; P < 0.05) and Thr(17) ( r = 0.52; P < 0.05). Our data suggest that the adenylyl cyclase step in the beta-AR cascade is not downregulated in the early course of hypertension and that the enhanced beta-AR responsiveness with training is likely mediated at levels other than adenylyl cyclase. Our data also suggest that beta-AR inotropic responsiveness in the presence of direct adenylyl cyclase agonism is improved in trained compared with sedentary SHR hearts.