Long-term caloric restriction activates the myocardial SIRT1/AMPK/PGC-1α pathway in C57BL/6J male mice

BACKGROUND: Caloric restriction(definition) (CR) can help in improving heart function. There is as yet no consensus on the mechanism of the effect of CR. Silent mating-type information regulation 1 (SIRT1), adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and mTOR(definition) are key players in metabolic stress management. We aimed to explore the effect of CR on the myocardial SIRT1/AMPK/mTOR pathway in mice. METHODS: = 12) according to different diets. After 11 months, western blot was used to examine proteins such as p-AMPK, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α), SIRT1, and p-mTOR, whereas real-time PCR was used to examine the expression of AMPK, PGC-1α, and SIRT1 transcripts. RESULTS: Compared to the HE group, the CR group displayed increased expression of myocardial p-AMPK protein, SIRT1 protein and mRNA, and PGC-1a mRNA. However, no difference was observed in the expression of p-mTOR protein and mTOR mRNA in the myocardium among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: CR improves the SIRT1/AMPK/PGC-1α pathway in mice myocardium with no effect on the mTOR pathway.