© Springer International Publishing AG 2017 133
T. Angelone et al. (eds.), Chromogranins: from Cell Biology to Physiology
and Biomedicine, UNIPA Springer Series, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-58338-9_9
Comparative Aspects of CgA-Derived Peptides
in Cardiac Homeostasis
Alfonsina Gattuso, Sandra Imbrogno, and Rosa Mazza
Abstract This chapter is an overview of the cardiotropic actions of the Chromogranin
A-derived peptides, vasostatins and catestatin on the isolated and perfused eel
(Anguilla anguilla) and frog (Rana esculenta) hearts, used as paradigms of fish and
amphibian hearts. Our studies highlight important cardiotropic features of the two
peptides both at basal (negative inotropism) and stimulated (anti- adrenergic effect:
eel and frog; anti-endothelin action: frog) conditions. In addition, catestatin posi-
tively modulates the Frank-Starling response both in eel and frog hearts. Overall, the
comparison of vasostatins and catestatin-mediated role in cardiac homeostasis of fish
and amphibians illustrates aspects of uniformity and species specific differences in
the mechanism of action of the peptides.
Abbreviations
Akt Protein kinase B
ANP Atrial natriuretic peptide
bCgA4–16 bovine CgA4–16
bCgA47–66 bovine CgA47–66
CA Catecholamines
CgA Chromogranin A
CgA1–40SH CgA1–40 without an intact disulfide bridge
CgA1–40SS CgA1–40 with an intact disulfide bridge
CST Catestatin
EE Endocardial endothelium
eNOS Endothelial nitric oxide synthase
ET-1 Endothelin-1
ETAR Endothelin-1 A subtype receptor
ETBR Endothelin-1 B subtype receptor
A. Gattuso, PhD (*) • S. Imbrogno • R. Mazza
Department of Biology, Ecology, and Earth Science, University of Calabria,
87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]