Functional receptor for platelet‐derived growth factor in rat embryonic heart‐derived myocytes: Role of sequestered Ca 2+ stores in receptor signaling and antagonism by arginine vasopressin

Platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF) is established to function importantly in the growth, development, and function of most cardiovascular tissues. However, evidence that the factor participates directly in the growth and development of the mammalian myocardium is lacking. H9c2 rat embryonic ventricular myocytes were found to respond to PDGF‐BB with a rapid mobilization of cell‐associated Ca 2+ and increased rates of protein synthesis, followed by markedly increased rates of DNA synthesis. PDGF acted as a full mitogen for these myocytes. Evidence is provided that documents the expression of classical PDGF‐β, but not PDGF‐α, receptors in H9c2 cells. Scatchard analysis revealed the presence of 44,000 β‐receptors per myocyte. Cell shortening and clustering of plasmalemmal β‐receptors occurred within 30 min of exposure to PDGF‐BB. Treatment was also associated with a transient increase in the rate of synthesis of GRP78/BiP, consistent with a transitory release of Ca 2+ from the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum [S(E)R]. Increased rates of protein synthesis at early times of PDGF treatment were additive with those occurring in response to arginine vasopressin, indicating different mechanisms of translational upregulation by these agents. The mitogenic effects of PDGF were delayed by vasopressin, which causes H9c2 myocytes to undergo hypertrophy while promoting the persistent depletion of S(E)R Ca 2+ stores. In the presence of PDGF, vasopressin did not induce hypertrophy. As compared to untreated myocytes, DNA synthesis in PDGF‐treated myocytes was optimized at lower extracellular Ca 2+ concentrations and was significantly less sensitive to inhibition by ionomycin. H9c2 cells appear to provide a useful embryonic cardiomyocyte model in which to examine both PDGF‐activated proliferative and vasopressin‐activated hypertrophic events and the importance of transient vs. sustained Ca 2+ release in these events. J. Cell. Biochem. 84: 736–749, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.