Reduction of Ventricular M2 Muscarinic Receptors in Cardiomyopathic Hamster (CHF 147) at the Necrotic Stage of the Myopathy

We have previously demonstrated that isolated ventricular myocytes from cardiomyopathic hamsters (CHF 147) during the necrotic stage (70-100 days) exhibit an attenuated contractile response to muscarinic stimulation. In the present study we have investigated whether this dysfunction may be related to a change in the density (or affinity) of cardiac muscarinic receptors. Thus, we have characterized and quantified the binding of the muscarinic antagonist [3H]-N-methyl scopolamine (NMS) to M2 muscarinic receptors in cardiac micropunches and in suspensions of isolated intact cardiomyocytes obtained from cardiomyopathic (CHF 147) and Golden Syrian hamsters. The hamsters were either 70-100 days old, when the cardiomyopathy had reached the cytolytic and necrotic stage or 30 days old, i.e. before the onset of the cardiomyopathy. In both preparations (micropunches and dissociated cardiomyocytes) the specific binding of [3H]-NMS was stereospecific, reversible, saturable, of high affinity and linearly dependent upon increasing amounts of tissue and cells. The binding site also possessed the drug specificity typical of an M2 muscarinic receptor. Saturation binding analysis revealed that the hearts of the older CHF 147 hamsters contain significantly fewer M2 muscarinic receptors than the control Golden Syrian hamsters while the affinity (Kd) was not altered. This reduction of M2 receptor number was not observed in CHF 147 hamsters at 30 days. Further, we found no differences in beta-adrenergic or in alpha 1-adrenergic binding in the two strains of hamster at either age. Thus, our results indicate that the parasympathetic regulation of cardiac function in CHF 147 hamsters may be compromised by a decreased number of muscarinic receptors at the necrotic stage of the cardiomyopathy.