Age-dependent mechanical and biochemical responses to glucagon.

The age-dependent relationships between glucagon-induced alterations in myocardial mechanics and adenylate cyclase activity in fetal and newborn lambs and adult sheep were evaluated. Glucagon substantially augmented the force of contraction of ventricular myocardium isolated from the adult but not from the fetus or newborn. Similarly, substantial increases in the spontaneous frequency of contraction and tension were observed in adult atrial strips, but not in the fetus or newborn. Comparable activities of phosphodiesterase were observed in extracts from fetal and adult myocardium and were unaltered by the addition of glucagon. Adenylate cyclase activity in adult myocardial homogenate and particulate fractions was comparable to that of fetal tissue. Glucagon stimulation of the particulate fraction produced no change in fetal adenylate cyclase activity whereas a 43% increase in activity was observed in preparations from adult tissue. Sodium fluoride and epinephrine augmented adenylate cyclase activity in both fetal and adult myocardium. Thus, glucagon produced age-dependent, parallel changes in heart rate, active tension development, and particulate fraction adenylate cyclase activity, suggesting that these chronotropic and inotropic responses are indeed mediated by adenylate cyclase and that lack of response in the fetus reflects the absence of mature glucagon receptor sites.