Effect of inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3 on cardiac hypertrophy during acute pressure overload.

Objective A large number of diverse signaling molecules in cell and animal models participate in the stimulus-response pathway through which the hypertrophic growth of the myocardium is controlled. However, the mechanisms of signaling pathway including the influence of lithium, which is known as an inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3β, in pressure overload hypertrophy remain unclear. The aim of our study was to determine whether glycogen synthase kinase-3β inhibition by lithium has acute effects on the myocyte growth mechanism in a pressure overload rat model.