OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of adenosine and its agonist on hypoxia-induced right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) and explore the underlying mechanism.

METHODSFifty-six rats were randomly divided into normoxia group, hypoxia group, and treated hypoxia groups (with different treatments with adenosine, A1 receptor agonist CPA, A2 receptor agonist NECA, CPA plus A1 receptor inhibitor DPCPX, or NECA plus A2B receptor inhibitor MRS1754). The rats except for those in normoxia group were exposed to normobaric chronic hypoxia (9.5%-10.5% oxygen) for 21 days, and the corresponding treatments were administered since the 7th day of hypoxia till day 21 via implantable capsule with a pressure pump. After the treatments, the right ventricles were then removed and weighed for evaluation of hypertrophy, and the expressions of NHE-1 and CnAβ mRNA in the myocardial tissue were detected using RT-PCR.

RESULTSAfter a 21-day hypoxia, the rats showed significantly increased RV/(LV+S) ratio (0.369∓0.033) and RV/BW ratio (0.75∓0.095) compared to those in normoxia group (0.271∓0.010 and 0.59∓0.039, respectively; P<0.001), adenosine treatment group (0.281∓0.022 and 0.65∓0.077, respectively; P<0.001, P=0.025), hypoxia with CPA group (0.313∓0.021 and 0.66∓0.067, respectively P<0.001), and hypoxia with NECA group(0.333∓0.019, and 0.68∓0.074, respectively P<0.001). The NHE-1 and CnAβ mRNA levels in hypoxia group were significantly higher than those in normoxia group, adenosine treatment group, hypoxia with CPA group, and hypoxia with NECA group(P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONAdenosine and its agonist can inhibit hypoxia-induced RVH in rats through the NHE-1/CaN signal pathway.