Abstract:Objective To investigate protective mechanism of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on H9c2 myo-cardial cell mitochondria via glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β). Methods The change of mitochondrial membrane potential was determined using fluorescent dye tetramethylrhodamine ester (TMRE) and laser confocal microscopy imaging technique. The open degree of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) was reflected as TMRE fluorescence intensity and the GSK-3β Ser9 phosphorylation (deactivation degree) was detected by Western blot. Then the protective effect of ANP on H9c2 cells transfected with activated GSK-3β plasmid (GSK-3β-S9A-HA) was observed. Results Compared to the control group (600 μmol/L H2O2), 0.01, 0.10, 1.00 and 10.00 nmol/L ANP significantly inhibited attenuation effect of TMRE fluorescence intensity induced by H2O2 (P < 0.05); of which 1.00 nmol/L ANP had the strongest effect. It suggested that ANP may modulate the mPTP opening. Western blot result showed that 0.01, 0.10, 1.00, 10.00 and 100.00 nmol/L ANP significantly increased the level of phosphorylation of GSK-3β (P < 0.05); which indicated that ANP could inhibit the activity of GSK-3β; however, 1.00 nmol/L ANP was not able to inhibit mPTP opening in cells of GSK-3β-S9A-HA. Conclusions ANP prevents the mPTP opening by inactivating GSK-3β so as to protect H9c2 myocardial cells during ischemia-reperfusion injury.