Early nebivolol treatment is beneficial in myocardial infarction in rats partly through β3‐adrenoceptor remodelling

Abstract

It remains unknown whether β‐blockers are useful and safe in acute myocardial infarction (MI). Owing to its pharmacological profile and vasodilating action, nebivolol (N) is useful in MI. The aim of the present study was to assess in rat whether early nebivolol treatment could be beneficial in MI. It remains unknown whether β‐blockers are useful and safe in acute MI. On day (D) 0, male Sprague‐Dawley rats underwent left coronary artery ligation (MI) or simple thoracotomy (SHAM). On D1 and D2, the rats were treated with either nebivolol (5 mg.kg⁻¹.day⁻¹, MI‐N and Sham‐N) or vehicle (V, MI‐V and Sham‐V). On D3, heart rate, left ventricle (LV) intrinsic contractility (PESmid) and arterial elastance were measured. Cardiac and aortic β‐Adrenoceptor (AR) subtype mRNA were quantified using real time quantitative RT‐qPCR. Catecholamine response was assessed on isolated heart and aortic rings with isoproterenol. PESmid was decreased in MI without worsening the decrease nebivolol. In LV, β₁‐ and β₃‐AR mRNA were respectively decreased and increased in all MI. β₃‐AR mRNA increase was partly limited by nebivolol. Ex vivo, basal contractility was less decreased in MI‐N than in MI‐V. Isoproterenol response was only altered in MI‐V. In MI aorta, Nebi prevented β₂‐ and β₃‐AR mRNA increases. In addition, Acetylcholine‐induced relaxation was lowered in MI‐V but preserved with nebivolol. We demonstrated an early modulation of cardiovascular β₃‐AR transcription early MI. Despite its putative negative inotropic properties, nebivolol did not worsen cardiac function in basal conditions and preserved LV catecholamine response.