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AIM: To investigate the contribution of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) to the regulation of calpain system in infarcted myocardium. METHODS: Rat myocardial infarction (MI) model was established by permanent ligation of the left coronary artery. The treatment with the ACEI inhibitor rampril (1 mg·kg-1·d-1) was started 7 days prior to surgery. On day 1, 3, 7 and 14 after MI, protein levels of calpainⅠ, Ⅱ and calpastatin were determined in left ventricular free wall (LVFW), interventricular septum (IS) and right ventricule. RESULTS: CalpainⅠprotein level was increased in IS 14 d post MI, whereas the protein level of calpainⅡ was maximally increased in LVFW 3 d post MI. Rampril decreased protein up-regulation of calpainⅠ and Ⅱ, and reduced infarct size and interstitial fibrosis. Calpastatin protein expression was not affected by ACEI. CONCLUSIONS: CalpainⅠ is involved in cardiac remodelling in the late and calpainⅡ contributes to cardiac tissue damage in the early phase of MI. The heart protective effect of ACEI may be related to the inhibition of calpain system in the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction.     

The mechanism of neuronal injury and repair after focal cerebral ischemia

AIM:To explore the mechanism of neuronal injury and repair by investigating the expression of caspase-3 and apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (APE/Ref-1) after focal cerebral ischemia. METHODS:A model of middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats was performed. The expression of caspase-3P₂₀ and APE/Ref-1 was examined by immunohistochemistry staining, TUNEL was applied to detected DNA damage, and double labeling with TUNEL and APE/Ref-1 was used to determine the relationship between APE/Ref-1 and DNA damage. RESULTS:The active subunit P₂₀ of caspase-3 was predominantly expressed within ischemic penumbra. The peak time of caspase-3P₂₀ positive cells preceded the appearance of TUNEL. With aggravation of cerebral ischemia, APE/Ref-1 immunoreactive cells in penumbra were significantly decreased. CONCLUSION:The activation of caspase enzymatic cascade following cerebral ischemia leads to degradation in DNA, meanwhile, decrease in DNA repair molecules or the failure of DNA repair may deteriorate the course.     

Cell proliferation and nestin expression in cortex and SEZ of MCAO rats

AIM:To explore the effect of brain ischemia injury on cell proliferation and nestin expression in cortex and subependymal zone (SEZ).METHODS:Using a local brain ischemia model(MCAO), BrdU positive cells of cortex and subependymal zone (SEZ), also nestin positive cells, were observed by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS:BrdU and nestin positive cells in SEZ of MCAO rats were obviously increased. In cortex, only nestin positive cells were observed.CONCLUSION:Neural stem cells in SEZ and cortex were activated after brain ischemia, it may be related with neural recovery after brain ischemia injury.     

Effects of matrix metalloproteinases on ventricular remodelingfollowing myocardial ischemia in the rat

AIM:To examine the relationship between the activity of matrix metallproteinases(MMPs) and ventricular remodeling following myocardial ischemia in the rat.METHODS:The model of myocardial ischemia(MI) in the rat was established by isoprenaline(ISP). The activity of MMPs was measured by zymography and collagen concentration was assessed by the method of chloramine T, so did I/III collagen ratio by immunohistochemical staining. The microstructure of myocardium was also observed by electron microscope.RESULTS:The activity of MMP-2 in myocardial ischemia group (group M) increased by 5.8 folds at 1 st week(P＜0.01), 2.3 folds at 2 nd week(P＜0.01) and 1.7 flods at 4 th week(P＜0.05) compared with control group (group C) and MMP-9's activity in group M increased by 4.9 folds (P＜0.01), 1.9 flods(P＜0.01) and 1.4 folds(P＜0.05), respectively. Collagen amount and I/III collagen ratio in group M increased compared with that in group C at 2 nd week and 4 th week. It showed that cardiac myocytes in group M were necrosed and collagen grew abundantly in interstitium under electron microscope.CONCLUSION:The activity of MMPs in the myocardial interstitium increased following myocardial ischemia, then collagen amount and I/III collagen ratio increased, which may be the major causes of ventricular remodeling.     

A reactive pattern of ischemia-induced nestin protein in the rat brain

AIM:To explore the expressive profile of nestin protein in the focal ischemic brain and to study the recovery mechanism of brain focal infarct.METHODS:Cellular morphology,time-course and distribution pattern of nestin positive response were immunohistochemically examined in different brain regions of 36 adult male SD rats. RESULTS:Nestin positive response of different brain regions in sham operated rats was present in small- and micro-vasculartures and the third ventricle bottom and ependyma. A large number of nestin positive cells were detected in ischemic brain, and were more remarkable in the cortical areas of parietal lobe and preoptic area as well as ischemic caudoputamen. Stellate nestin positive cells were located in the deep layer of ischemic cortex, but fibrillary cells were located in the shallow layer. Nestin positive cells in the ischemic caudoputamen showed the same changes of morphology as those cells in the deep layer of ischemic cortex. Morphological and number alterations of nestin positive cells were the most remarkable at 1 weeks post-ischemia, which showed more hypertrophy and proliferation in morphology, and a marked increase in number was present in the ischemic cerebral cortex and the ischemic caudoputamen. These alterations of nestin positive cells persisted up to 6 weeks post-ischemia, and then, the nestin positive response in the ischemic brain decreased gradually.CONCLUSION:Focal cerebral ischemia induces nestin re-expression on reactive astrocytes, which may be very important to the self-recovery of cerebral infarct.     

Effect of protein kinase C on the expression of myocardial HSP70 mRNA during myocardic ischemic preconditioning in rabbits

AIM:To study the relationship between myocardial HSP70 and PKC during myocardial ischemic preconditioning(IPC). METHODS: PKC inhibitor, polymyxin B(PMB) and PKC activator, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate(PMA) were applied to the models of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion in vivo and in vitro in rabbits, respectively, and the ventricular functions, PLA₂ in the serum, and the expression of mycardial HSP70 mRNA were examined. RESULTS:IPC decreased PLA₂ activity, improved the left ventricular function and increased the expression of myocardial HSP70 mRNA. Howerer, all these effects of IPC could be blocked by PMB. Interestingly, PMA mimicked IPC with attenuating the injuries of cardial myocytes and increasing myocardial HSP70 mRNA expression. CONCLUSION:PKC is involved in the myocardial HSP70 expression in case of ischemic preconditioning.     

Effects of external counterpulsation on renin-angiotensin system and hemodynamics in dogs with myocardial ischemia

AIM:To examine the effect of external counterpulsation(ECP) on renin-angiotensin system(RAS) and hemodynamics in dogs with myocardial ischemia and their relationship. METHODS:Acute myocardial ischemia was induced by occluding the left anterior descending of the dogs. The local renin activity, angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ) level, angiotension-converting enzyme(ACE) activity were tested by biochemical methods and hemodynamics was recorded by a 8-channel physiological recorder.RESULTS:Ischemia could actiivate renin,ACE and AngⅡ in cardiovasculature and ECP reduced them except for renin in ischemic myocardium. Ischemia also could activate RAS in lung and kidney, which play an important role on circulating RAS, and ECP reduced them. Furthermore, ECP could improve hemodynamics and there existed a close relationship between local AngⅡlevel and hemodynamics. CONCLUSION:ECP can reduce local RAS and improve hemodynamics in dogs with myocardial ischemia, which might be one of mechanisms underlying the protective effect of ECP on ischemic myocardium.     

Effects of tetrandrine and fructose-1, 6-diphosphate on the elevated intrasynaptosomal [Ca2+]i induced by excitatory amino acids

AIM: To study the effects of tetrandrine(Tet) and fructose-1, 6-diphosphate(FDP) on the elevated intrasynaptosomal [Ca²⁺]_i induced by excitatory amino acids(EAA). METHODS: A rapid method for preparing synaptosomes was used, and intrasynaptosomal free calcium([Ca²⁺]_i) was measured by using the fluorescent indicator quin-2. RESULTS: L-glutamate(Glu, 100 μmol/L), aspartate(Asp, 100 μmol·L^-1), N-methy1-D-aspartate(100 μmol/L) and Glu(50 μmol/L) plus Asp(50 μmol/L) all elevated intrasynaptosomal [Ca²⁺]_i in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment with Tet(10, 30, 60 μmol/L), FDP(15, 30, 75, 150 μmol/L), MK-801(10, 20 μmol/L) and Tet(15, 30 μmol/L) plus FDP(15, 30 μmol/L) all attenuated the increase in intrasynaptosomal [Ca²⁺]_i induced by EAAs mentioned as above in a dose-dependent manner, and the effect of Tet plus FDP was most significant. CONCLUSION: Both Tet and FDP inhibited a rise in intrasynaptosomal [Ca²⁺]_i induced by EAAs, which may be one of mechanisms that Tet and FDP pretect cerebral tissues against ischemia injury.     

Effects of carvedilol,cilazapril and their combination on left ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction in rats

AIM:To compare the effects of carvedilol, cilazapril and their combination on left ventricular remodeling(LVRM) after acute myocardial infarction(AMI) in rats. METHODS: Twenty-four hours after AMI operation, 100 surviving rats were randomly assigned to: ①AMI control(n= 25), ②AMI+carvedilol(1 mg·kg^-1 ·d^-1, n= 25)(C1), ③AMI+cilazapril(1 mg·kg^-1 ·d^-1, n= 25)(Z1), and ④ AMI+combination(n= 25) groups. Sham-operated group(n= 17) were selected randomly. After 4 weeks of therapy with the drugs gastric gavage, hemodynamic and pathological studies were performed. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in MI size among the four AMI groups(all P> 0.05) Left ventricular(LV) end diastolic pressure(LVEDP), volume(LVV), weight(LVW) and septal thickness(STh) were all higher and left ventricular pressure maximal rate of rise and fall(±d p /d t) were lower(all P< 0.01) in AMI group than sham-operated group. The LVEDP, LVV, LVW and STh were all lower and ±dp /dt were higher in Z1, C1, and combination groups than those in AMI group(P< 0.05, P< 0.01), with LVEDP and STh were more lower in the combination group than in the two monotherapy group(P< 0.05, P< 0.01), but there were no significant differences in other variables among the three therapy groups. CONCLUSION: Carvedilol, cilazapril and their combination all can prevent from LVRM after AMI in rats, improve hemodynamics and LV function, with the combination superior.     

Cortical gene expression pattern in rat focal cerebral ischemia

AIM: To investigate the genes differential expression in cortex during rat focal cerebral ischemia.METHODS: cDNA microarray chips containing numerous cDNAs were used to investigate the gene expression pattern between samples of focal cerebral ischemia and sham-control operation rats. RESULTS: Two hundred and eleven genes differentially expressed were screened out, among these genes, up-and down-regulated genes were 199 and 12, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of gene expression pattern of focal cerebral ischemia based on cDNA microarray can realize high-throughput screening of the genes associated with the focal cerebral ischemia. The differential expression of genes may be related to the pathogenesis of focal cerebral ischemic diseases.