Relationship between cardiomyocyte protein synthesis and cell viability

OBJECTIVE: To observe the relationship between protein sythesis and cardiomyocyte viability in neonatal rats. METHODS: The protein sythesis in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes was measured according to Brandford's method, the absorbance at 490 nm (A(490 nm)) of the cells was measured with MTT assay and the cell viability evaluated by the ratio of A(490 nm) to the total cell number. RESULTS: ET-1 increased cardiomyocyte protein synthesis dose-dependently, and this effect was attenuated by the application of lacidipine and tetramethylpyrazines Higher doses of ET-1 resulted in lower A(490 nm)/total cell number ratio, which was further lowered by larcidipine and tetramethylpyrazine. CONCLUSION: The status of protein synthesis is not associated with the viability of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.