Abstract: Objective To investigate the expression of dermatopontin (DPT) induced by hypoxia and serum deprivation (H/SD) which imitated the microenvironment of ischemic myocardium in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes in vitro. Methods Cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were disposed to H/SD for 0 , 6 , 12 and 24 h. The mRNA and protein expression of DPT was determined by real time RT-PCR and western blot , respectively. Using the method of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine the different expression of DPT between normal cultured cardiomyocytes and cardiomyocytes disposed to H/SD for 24 h. Results Compared with 0 h, the mRNA and protein level of DPT were significantly raised in cultured cardiomyocytes which were disposed to H/SD for 6 ,12 and 24 h (p<0.05). It was confirmed by the method of ELISA that compared with control group, the expression of DPT was higher in cardiomyocytes which were disposed to H/SD for 24 h. Conclusion The DPT expression in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes was promoted by H/SD in vitro, which indicated that DPT may be invoved in the ventricular remolding process caused by hypoxia and ischemic in vivo.

Key words: dermatopontin, hypoxia and serum deprivation, cardiomyocyte