Changes in glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase 2 during rat physiological and pathological cardiomyocyte hypertrophy

BACKGROUND: Physiological and pathological cardiomyocyte hypertrophy are important pathophysiological processes of adult congenital heart disease-associated ventricular hypertrophy. Glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) is a vital marker of myocardial injury. This study aimed to investigate the changes in GOT levels during physiological and pathological cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in rats. METHODS: RNA-seq analysis and colorimetric methods were used to evaluate the changes in GOT mRNA and activity, respectively. GOT2 protein expression was detected by western blotting and immunofluorescence. Hematoxylin-eosin and wheat germ agglutinin methods were used to observe changes in rat cardiomyocyte morphology. RESULTS: In juvenile rat hearts, GOT mRNA expression and activity, and GOT2 protein level increased with age-related physiological cardiomyocyte hypertrophy; however, GOT2 protein level was reduced in hypoxia-induced pathological cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. CONCLUSIONS: GOT2 may regulate physiological and pathological myocardial hypertrophy in rats. We speculated that the low GOT2 level contributed to the rapid occurrence of pathological cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, causing strong plasticity of right ventricular cardiomyocytes in the early postnatal period and heart failure in adulthood. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12872-023-03648-3.