Acta Anatomica Sinica ›› 2018, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (6): 752-758.doi: 10.16098/j.issn.0529-1356.2018.06.010

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Distribution of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide gated cation channels 4 positive cells in rat myocardial tissue at different developmental stages

ZHANG Ya-nan1 REN Ming-fen2 GUO Zhi-kun 1*   

  1. 1.He’nan Key Laboratary of Medical Tissue Regeneration,He’nan Xinxiang 453003, China; 2.Cardiac Department,the Second Affiliated Hospital,Xinxiang Medical University,He’nan Xinxiang 453003, China
  • Received:2017-11-28 Revised:2018-01-30 Online:2018-12-06 Published:2019-02-28
  • Contact: GUO Zhi-kun E-mail:guozhikunxxmc@126.com

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the changes of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide gated cation channels 4(HCN4) expression in the rat heart at different developmental stages and to provide morphological basis for further study of HCN4 on cardiac function. Methods Four groups of rats, 15 rats per group, which were separately born for 1 day, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months were used in this study. The hearts of each group were collected. Paraffin section and frozen section were used to observe the distribution and morphological characteristics of HCN4 positive cells in myocardium of rats at different developmental stages by immunohistochemistry and fluorescence techniques. The protein content of HCN4 in left and right ventricles was observed by Western blotting. Results The immunohistochemical and fluorescence results showed that HCN4 positive cells in 1 day after birth, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months of the vascular smooth muscle cells, endocardial and vascular endothelial cells, epicardial mesothelial cells, fibroblasts, a large number of atrial myocytes, a small amount of cardiomyocytes, and conduction of tissue cells were expressed, but the number of expressed cells was uneven in different parts. Western blotting results showed that the expression of ventricular HCN4 protein decreased with age. Conclusion The expression of HCN4 decreased gradually with the increase of age in the rat myocardium, but the cells with strong proliferative ability are sustained expression. These results suggest that HCN4 may regulate the survival of many cells in myocardium.

Key words: Heart, Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide gated cation channels 4, Immunohistochemistry, Immunofluorescence, Western blotting, Rat