Aromatase knockout mice reveal an impact of estrogen on drug-induced alternation of murine electrocardiography parameters

J Toxicol Sci. 2015 Jun;40(3):339-48. doi: 10.2131/jts.40.339.

Abstract

Our in vitro characterization showed that physiological concentrations of estrogen partially suppressed the I(Kr) channel current in guinea pig ventricular myocytes and the human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) channel currents in CHO-K1 cells regardless of estrogen receptor signaling and revealed that the partially suppressed hERG currents enhanced the sensitivity to the hERG blocker E-4031. To obtain in vivo proof-of-concept data to support the effects of estrogen on cardiac electrophysiology, we here employed an aromatase knockout mouse as an in vivo estrogen-null model and compared the acute effects of E-4031 on cardiac electrophysiological parameters with those in wild-type mice (C57/BL6J) by recording surface electrocardiogram (ECG). The ablation of circulating estrogens blunted the effects of E-4031 on heart rate and QT interval in mice under a denervation condition. Our result provides in vivo proof of principle and demonstrates that endogenous estrogens increase the sensitivity of E-4031 to cardiac electrophysiology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aromatase / genetics*
  • Aromatase / physiology
  • ERG1 Potassium Channel
  • Electrocardiography* / drug effects
  • Estrogens / physiology*
  • Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Female
  • Heart Rate / drug effects
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Piperidines / pharmacology
  • Pyridines / pharmacology

Substances

  • ERG1 Potassium Channel
  • Estrogens
  • Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels
  • KCNH2 protein, human
  • Piperidines
  • Pyridines
  • E 4031
  • Aromatase