Nitric oxide increases gene expression of Ca(2+)-ATPase in myocardial and skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum: physiological implications

The aim of the study was to verify the hypothesis that NO-dependent regulation of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) gene expression can play an important role in prevention of calcium overload under the influence of detrimental factors. It was shown that 2 hours after the administration of the NO donor dinitrosyl iron complex (DNIC), the gene expression of myocardial SERCA was increased by 20% as compared to the control. In skeletal muscles, the maximum increase in SERCA expression was observed in 6 hours and amounted to 156% as compared with the initial value. Simultaneously DNIC enhanced the resistance of isolated heart and the organism as a whole to damaging effects of intracellular calcium overload induced by post-ischemic reperfusion or vigorous exercise, respectively. The results obtained confirm the existence of NO-dependent activation of SERCA expression and the important role of this mechanism in restriction of calcium overload.