Impaired myosin isoform shift and calcium transients contribute to cellular pathogenesis of rat cirrhotic cardiomyopathy

Background & Aims Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy is a recently recognized entity, but detailed cellular and molecular mechanisms remain unclarified. We aimed to elucidate the role of myosin heavy chain isoform shifts and their relation to calcium transients in the contractile kinetics of cirrhotic rats. Methods Cirrhosis was induced in male Lewis Brown‐Norway rats by bile duct ligation (BDL). Myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform distribution was evaluated by gel electrophoresis. Contractile force, Ca 2+ transients and cell shortening were studied at varied frequency and extracellular [Ca 2+ ]. T‐tubular integrity was analysed by power spectrum analysis of images of myocytes stained with di‐8‐ANEPPS. Results Compared with sham controls, the phenotypes of cirrhotic rats were as follows: (a) alpha‐myosin heavy chain shifted to beta‐MHC isoform; (b) mild loss of T‐tubular integrity in myocytes; (c) a reduced maximum and rate of rise of the Ca 2+ transient (max F / F o ); (d) a reduction in both the rate of rise and fall of contraction; (e) decreased maximal force‐generating capacity; (f) loss of the inotropic effect of increased stimulus frequency; (g) unchanged sensitivity of force development to varied extracellular [Ca 2+ ] and (h) increased spontaneous diastolic sarcomere length fluctuations. Conclusion Cardiomyocytes and ventricular trabeculae in a cirrhotic rat model showed features of typical heart failure including systolic and diastolic prolongation, impaired force‐frequency relation and decreased force‐generating capacity. Impaired myosin isoform shift and calcium transients are important contributory mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of the heart failure phenotype seen in cirrhosis.