Adrenomedullin is a regulated modulator of neonatal cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vitro

Adrenomedullin is a potent hypotensive, natriuretic and diuretic peptide that is coexpressed in the heart with its receptor, suggesting that it may have localized actions as a modulator of cardiac function. Although expression of adrenomedullin is upregulated in the pathological heart, its cardiac function has not been clearly elucidated and it is not known whether this represents a common feature of cardiac hypertrophy, nor whether this is restricted to cardiac myocytes. We have determined the direct effects of hypertrophic agents on cardiomyocyte adrenomedullin gene expression and peptide secretion and have examined the effects of adrenomedullin on biochemical markers of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.