Effect of ischemic preconditioning on myoelectricity and the structure of myocardial gap junction during heart valve replacement surgery

AIM: To investigate the cardio-protective mechanism of ischemic preconditioning (IP) during heart valve replacement of the perspective of architectural changes of myocardial gap junction. METHODS: Fifty-four patients were prospectively randomized to receive or not ischemic preconditioning before cold cardioplegic arrest. The IP protocol in IP patients (n=22) consisted of a single 2-minute ischemia followed by 3-minute reperfusion just before aortic clamping and cold crystalloid cardioplegia for myocardial protection. The control group (n=32) received no ischemic preconditioning prior to cold cardioplegic arrest. The parameters including arrhythmias occurrence, Cx43 expression (immunohistochemistry SABC method) and myocardial structure and intercalated discs observed under electronic microscope were recorded before and after surgery in each group. RESULTS: In IP group, one case (4.55%) of ventricular arrhythmia (sporadic ventricular premature beat), 11 cases (50.00%) of supraventricular arrhythmia (atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, supraventricular tachycardia, atrioventricular block) and 10 cases (45.50%) of ischemic ST-T changes were observed. In control group, there were 14 cases (43.75%) of ventricular arrhythmia (ventricular premature beat, tachycardia), 18 cases (56.25%) of supraventricular tachycardia and 28 cases (87.50%) of ischemic ST-T changes. No statistical difference in preoperative positive unit of Cx43 expression between the two groups was found (P>0.05). Postoperatively, the positive unit of Cx43 expression in IP group was 16.15±4.40, but the difference was not significant compared to the preoperative value (P>0.05). In control group, Cx43 expression was 11.92±1.26, significantly lower than that of the preoperative value (P<0.05). Cx43 expression between the two postoperative groups showed a significant difference (P<0.05). In control group, electronic microscopic observation revealed disrupted intercalated discs, with some partially or even totally ruptured and disintegrated. Enormous necrotic structural changes of myocardial fibers were also observed, including swelling, dissolution and disorganization of myofilaments and fibers, widening of the Z striae and disorganization. However in IP group, the intercalated discs appeared intact, continuous with normal myocardial structure. CONCLUSION: IP maintains normal expression of the myocardial junctional gap protein Cx43, which preserves a seamless intercellular gap junction and a normal myocardial electric conduction activity.     

Effects of norepinephrine preconditioning and ischemic preconditioning on apoptosis and Bcl-2, Bax expression in rat myocardial cells during myocardial ischemic reperfusion

AIM: To study the effects of norepinephrine preconditioning(NE-P) and ischemic preconditioning (IP)on apoptosis and Bcl-2, Bax expression in rat myocardial cells in myocardial ischemic reperfusion (I/R). METHODS: The model of rat ischemic-reperfusion was used to conduct NE-preconditioning. Apoptotic myocytes were detected with TUNEL. Bcl-2, Bax expression were detected with immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The rate of apoptosis cells in I/R group was higher, the rate of apoptosis cells in NE-P group and IP was lower significantly than that in I/R group(P＜0.01). The expression of Bcl-2 in I/R group was lower, but the expression of Bax was higher, the expression of Bcl-2 in NE-P group was higher significantly than that in I/R group(P＜0.01), the expression of Bax in NE-P group was lower than that in I/R group(P＜0.01). There was no significantly difference between NE-P and IP group in the above parameters (P＞0.05). CONCLUSION: NE-P reduced myocyte apoptosis by I/R in rats; The expression of Bcl-2 ,Bax genes played an important role in myocardial apoptosis.     

Significance and changes of serum interleukin-8 and 10 in human myocardium ischemic preconditioning

AIM: To explore the mechanism of myocardium protection after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury by preconditioning with ischemia in human. METHODS: Thirty-six patients underwent valve replacement were divided into ischemic preconditioning group (IP group, 20 cases) and non-ischemic preconditioning group (control group, 16 cases) according to whether they were given single cycle reperfusion before cardioplegia or not. Serum levels of interleukin-8 and 10 were measured with ELISA. Expressions of myocardial Bcl-2 and caspase-3 were analyzed. RESULTS: The inflammatory factors IL-8 and IL-10 increased to the highest level in serum at 6 h after declamping and recovered to normal level on 5 d after declamping. On 6 h, 1 d and 2 d after declamping, serum level of IL-8 was significantly lower in IP group than that in control group (P<0.05), but serum level of IL-10 was higher in IP group (P<0.05). Expression of myocardial Bcl-2 and caspase-3 increased in both groups after reperfusion, and Bcl-2 was lower in the control group than that in IP group while the level of caspase-3 was higher (P<0.05). Expression of myocardial Bcl-2 had positive correlation with IL-10 and negative correlation with IL-8. CONCLUSION: Ischemic preconditioning has the effect of protection of human myocardial cells after ischemia/reperfusion injury through decreasing systemic inflammatory response following ischemia reperfusion injury.     

Effects of heptanol preconditioning on structure,function and Cx43 content of mitochondria in rabbit model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury

AIM: To investigate the effects of heptanol preconditioning on the changes of structure, function and connexin 43 (Cx43) content in mitochondria in a rabbit model of myocardial isehemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. METHODS: In anesthetized open-chest rabbits, the left anterior descending artery (LAD) was occluded for 30 min and reperfused for 4 h. Sixty-four rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=16 in each group): sham operation group (sham group), ischemia-reperfusion group (IR group), ischemic preconditioning group (IP group) and heptanol preconditioning group (HT group). All rabbits in the 4 groups were killed 4 h after reperfusion. Myocardial infarct size was determined at the end of the experiment. Mitochondria was isolated by centrifugations. The ultrastructural changes of the mitochondria were observed under electronic microscope. The mitochondrial membrane potential, Ca2+ concentration, MDA content and SOD activity of myocardial mitochondria were also examined. The content of mitochondria Cx43 was detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared to IR group, the myocardial infarct size was significantly reduced in IP (18.97%±2.80%) and HT (19.97%±3.80%) groups, the damage of mitoehondrial ultrastructure was milder (P<0.05), mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly higher and Ca2+ concentration was much lower (P<0.01) in IP group and HT group. No significant difference of MDA content and SOD activity in myocardial mitochondria between IR group and HT group was found. However, MDA content were much lower and SOD activity was significantly higher in IP group as compared to IR group (P<0.01). Compared to sham group, the mitochondria Cx43 expression was distinctly decreased compared to IR group (P<0.05) and no significant difference was found between IP group and HT group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Heptanol preconditioning protects myocardium from ischemia-reperfusion injury. The mechanism may be related to increasing in mitochondrial membrane potential, alleviating Ca2+ overload in myocardial mitochondria and attenuating the decrease in mitochondria Cx43 expression induced by isehemia-reperfusion.     

Remote preconditioning provides myocardial protection against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury through downregulating the expression of calreticulin in rats

AIM: To evaluate the role of calreticulin (CRT) in myocardial protection of remote preconditioning against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. METHODS: Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: ischemia reperfusion group (IR), ischemia preconditioning group (IP), remote preconditioning group Ⅰ (RPI), remote preconditioning group Ⅱ (RPII) and pseudo-operation group (PO). The ischemia/reperfusion model was established in vivo. Hemodynamic changes of heart function were observed. Serum cardiac troponin T (cTnT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and the expression of calreticulin in myocardium were detected. RESULTS: Hemodynamic data, serum cTnT, DA, SOD and the expression of CRT in RPI and IR group were not statistically different (P>0.05). SOD level in IP and RPII group was higher than that in IR group (P<0.05). Accordingly, cTnT, MDA and the expression of CRT in these two groups were lower than those in IR group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Remote preconditioning may mimic the protective effect of ischemic preconditioning. Remote preconditioning attenuates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in vivo possibly through down-regulation of CRT expression in rats.     

Effect of ischemic preconditioning on contents of cytochrome C and mitochondrial calcium in rats after focal cerebral ischemic-reperfusion

AIM: To observe the effect of ischemic preconditioning on contents of cytochrome C and mitochondrial calcium in rats after focal cerebral ischemic-reperfusion. METHODS: Focal cerebral ischemic model was made by occlusion of right middle artery in Wistar rats (ischemia for 2 h and reperfusion for 4 h). Rats were randomly divided into three groups: ischemia pretreatment, model and sham operation. Rats in ischemic pretreatment group were undergone transient ischemic preconditioning (30 min) and reperfusion (72 h). The contents of cytochrome C were measured according to Zhangjuntian's improved methods. The contents of mitochondrial calcium were detected by flame atom absorption. RESULTS: The contents of mitochondrial cytochrome C and calcium in model group were significantly lower than those in sham operation (P<0.05, P<0.01), whereas the contents of plasma cytochrome C were markedly higher (P<0.05, P<0.01). The change in ischemic pretreatment group was obviously difference as compared with the model group. CONCLUSION: Ischemic preconditioning reduces the release of mitochondrial cytochrome C and maintain mitochondrial calcium homeostasis.     

Protective effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) against to myocardial ischemia in rats

AIM: To study the protective effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on myocardial ischemia in rats and their underlying mechanism. METHODS: A rat myocardial ischemic injury model was established by left coronary artery ligation. The rats were killed at 2 h, 4 h, 8 h after coronary artery occlusion. The samples of blood and myocardium were collected for observing the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in myocardial cells and the changes of superoxide dismutase (SOD) or myocardial enzymes. RESULTS: The amount of Bcl-2 protein expression of myocardial cells in ischemia + bFGF group was significantly higher than that in ischemia+saline group (P＜0.01) at 2 h, 4 h after coronary artery occlusion. However, the change of Bax protein expression was reversed (P＜0.05). The activity of SOD in ischemia+bFGF group was higher than that in ischemia+saline group, and the changes of LDH, CK-MB and α-HBDH in ischemia+bFGF group were reversed (P＜0.05) in serum. CONCLUSION: bFGF has protective roles against myocardial ischemia in rats.     

Effects of ischemic preconditioning on oxidative stress and mitochondrial function in young and old rat myocardium with ischemia/reperfusion

AIM: To study the protective effect of ischemia preconditioning (IPC) on ischemia/reperfusion (IR)-damaged myocardium in young and old rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats aged at 3 months (young) and 20 months (old) were used to establish myocardial IPC model and IR model with the method of Langendorff heart perfusion. The rats were divided into young ischemia/reperfusion (YIR) group, young ischemic preconditioning (YPC) group, old ischemia/reperfusion (OIR) group and old ischemic preconditioning (OPC) group. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultrastructural changes of myocardial tissue and myocardial mitochondria. The myocardial infarction area was determined by TTC staining. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) content in coronary effluent fluid and the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in myocardial tissues were detected by the method of colorimetry. The levels of nitrated and carbonylated proteins in myocardial tissue were measured by ELISA. The myocardial cell apoptosis was analyzed by TUNEL assay. The mitochondrial respiratory function and mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening induced by calcium load were evaluated by oxygen electrode method. RESULTS: Compared with YIR group, the myocardial infarction area in YPC group was obviously smaller, SOD activity in myocardial tissues increased, LDH activity in coronary effluent fluid and the content of MDA decreased, and the levels of nitrated and carbonylated proteins in the cardiac tissues reduced. In YPC group, the mitochondrial membrane structure appeared intact, cristae of the mitochondria showed close arrangement, and the matrix was compressed under the electron microscope. Myocardial mitochondrial respiratory control rate, state Ⅲ oxygen consumption and the P/O ratio in YIR group all significantly increased, proton leak decreased, mitochondrial swelling induced by calcium distinctly reduced, and myocardial apoptosis rate declined. No significant difference of the above indexes between OIR group and OPC group was observed. Compared with YPC group, myocardial ultrastructural damage increased clearly, cardiac oxidative stress increased, mitochondrial respiratory function declined, and cell apoptosis and necrosis increased in OPC group. CONCLUSION: Ischemic preconditioning has protective effect against myocardial IR injury in young rat hearts, while old rat hearts were less sensitive to ischemic preconditioning, leading to bluntness of cardioprotection with IPC in aging hearts. This may be related to mitochondrial injury and severe cellular apoptosis caused by increase of cardiac oxidative stress levels in the aging ischemic preconditioning heart.     

Effects of maternal limb ischemic preconditioning on fetal hippocampal neuron apoptosis induced by intrauterine distress-reoxygenation in rats

AIM: To evaluate the influence of maternal limb ischemic preconditioning (LIP) on the apoptosis of fetal hippocampal neurons induced by intrauterine distress-reoxygenation in rats. METHODS: Intrauterine ischemia was induced by clamping the uterine and uterine branch of the ovarian blood vessels with aneurysm clamps for a period of 15 min followed by removal of the clamps to permit reperfusion. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (n=12) were randomly divided into 4 groups on the 19th pregnant day: sham (S) group, LIP group, fetal distress (FD) group and LIP+FD group. The cesarean birth occurred on embryonic day 21 to obtain 12 fetal rats alive in each group. The fetal rats were decapitated and the pyramidal cells in CA1 hippocampus were observed under light microscope. The neuronal apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining and the apoptotic rate was calculated. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax were detected by immunohistochemical method and Western blotting. RESULTS: The rates of neuronal apoptosis in FD group and LIP+FD group were significantly higher than that in S group (P<0.05), while no significant difference was observed between S group and LIP group (P>0.05). The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in FD group and LIP+FD group was significantly higher than that in S group (P<0.05), while no significant difference was observed between S group and LIP group (P>0.05). The ratio of Bcl-2/Bax was lower in FD group than that in S group. Compared with FD group, the rate of neuronal apoptosis was significantly lower (P<0.05), while the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax was significantly higher (P<0.05) in LIP+FD group. CONCLUSION: Maternal limb ischemic preconditioning attenuates the apoptosis of fetal hippocampal neurons induced by intrauterine distress-reoxygenation in rats, which may be associated with the up-regulation of Bcl-2 expression.     

Role of apelin in rat myocardial ischemic preconditioning and ischemia/ reperfusion injury

AIM: To study the alteration and role of apelin in myocardial ischemic preconditioning and ischemia/reperfusion injury of rats.METHODS: Forty-five SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: ischemia/reperfusion group (IR),ischemia pre-conditioning group (IP) and sham operation group.ECG was continuously used to evaluate the score of arrhythmias.The protein levels of apelin-36 in myocardium and plasma were detected by radioimmunoassay.The expression of apelin was observed by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: (1) The scores of arrhythmias in IP group (2.1±0.5) was only 58.3% of IR group (3.6±0.8) ( P<0.01).(2) The apelin-36 protein level of plasma and myocardium in IR group were respectively lower by 36.1% and 45.6% than those in SH group (P<0.01),and those in IP group were lower by 23.8% and 24.7% than those in SH group (P<0.01),but higher than those in IR group (18.9% and 38.5%,respectively,P<0.05).(3) The staining absorbance of apelin in IR,SH and IP group was (7.87±2.41),(22.53±2.54) and (14.23±2.15),respectively.There were significant differences between IR and SH (P<0.01) and between IP group and SH group (P<0.05).(4) The scores of arrhythmias in IP and IR were negatively correlated with the protein level of apelin-36 in myocardium (r= 0.847,P <0.01).CONCLUSION: The down-regulation of apelin-36 in the plasma and myocardium of rats indicates that apelin has an important role in myocardial ischemic preconditioning and ischemia/reperfusion injury.     

Effects of urocortin-I preconditioning on myocardial mitochondrial respiratory function and enzyme activity in rats

ATM: To investigate the influence of urocortin-I (Ucn I) preconditioning on the myocardial mitochondrial respiratory function and enzyme activity in the rats with ischemia reperfusion, and to observe the changes of ATP content in the myocardial cells. METHODS: (1) The healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:normal group (Nor group), ischemia reperfusion group (IR group), Ucn I preconditioning group (Ucn I group), 5-hydroxy acid (5-HD)+Ucn I group. Langendorff perfusion was used to establish the in vitro model of cardiac ischemia reperfusion. At the end of the balance (T₁), before ischemia (T₂) and at the end of the reperfusion (T₃) respectively, the myocardial mitochondria was extracted, the mitochondrial respiratory function and respiratory enzyme activity in each group were determined. (2) The method of MPA isolated heart perfusion was used to isolate myocardial cells of the adult rats. After cultured for 24 h, myocardial cells were divided into 4 groups:Nor group, hypoxia/reoxygenation group (I/R group), Ucn I group, 5-HD+Ucn I group. Hypoxia/reoxygenation model of myocardial cells was established. At the end of reoxygenation, the changes of myocardial ATP content were measured by high performance liquid chromatography.RESULTS: (1) Compared with T₁, T₂ time points, the respiratory function (state 3 respiratory rate, respiratory control rate) and NADH oxidase, succinate oxidase and cytochrome C oxidase activities at T₃ time point were significantly decreased (P<0.05) in all groups except Nor group. At T₃ time point, the myocardial mitochondrial respiratory function and respiratory enzyme activity in Ucn I group were superior to 5-HD+Ucn I group and IR group (P<0.05), but was inferior to Nor group (P<0.05). At T₃ time point, the respiratory function of myocardial mitochondria and respiratory enzyme activities (NADH oxidase, succinate oxidase) in 5-HD+Ucn I group were better than those in IR group (P<0.05), but no statistical difference of the cytochrome C oxidase activity between the 2 groups was observed. The respiratory function and 3 kinds of respiratory enzyme activities at T₁, T₂ time points had no statistical change. (2) At the end of the reoxygenation, the myocardial ATP content in Nor group was higher than that in other groups (P<0.01). The myocardial ATP contents in I/R group and 5-HD+Ucn I group were lower than that in Ucn I group (P<0.05). In additon, 5-HD+Ucn I group was higher ATP content compared with I/R group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Ucn I preconditioning attenuates the ischemia/reperfusion induced damages of myocardial mitochondrial respiratory function and respiratory enzyme activity, thus ensuring the myocardial ATP contents under the condition of hypoxia/reoxygenation.     

Role of nitric oxide in ischemia/reperfusion injury and ischemic preconditioning

AIM: To clarify the role of nitric oxide(NO) in ischemic preconditioning(IP) and its effects on apoptosis. METHODS: Seventy-two male Wistar rats were divided into the following six groups:ischemia/reperfusion (IR) group,IP group,IR+L-arg group,IP+L-arg group,IR+L-NAME group and IP+L-NAME group,The following changes were measured:cardiac hemodynamic parameters,infarct size,PMNs counting myocardial MPO activity and TUNEL staining.RESULTS: ①L-arg significantly attenuated ischemia/reperfusion-induced heart injury,reduced PMNs infiltration and cardiomyocyte apoptosis.②L-NAME also significantly reduced infarct size,PMNs infiltration and cardiomyocyte apoptosis compared with IR group,however,L-NAME aggravated ischemia/reperfusions-induced cardiac functional injury.③L-arg or L-NAME did not significantly alter the protective effect of ischemic preconditioning. CONCLUSION: Increased production of endogenous NO before prolonged ischemic period can protect hearts and inhibit apoptosis.L-NAME can inhibit iNOS activity and ONOO^- production in reperfusion period to protect heart.     

Effect of adenosine infusion before ischemic preconditioning on immature myocardial reperfusion injury in neonatal rabbits

AIM and METHODS:To investigate the cardioprotective effect of adenosine infusion before ischemic preconditioning on immature myocardial reperfusion injury in rabbit heart. Isolated perfused working heart model were performed, all hearts were subjected to 2-hour global hypothermic ischemia and received intermittent cold cardioplegia perfusion.RESULTS:During reperfusion, the recovery of left ventricular systolic pressure, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, +dp/dt_max, and -dp/dt_max of hearts received adenosine infusion before ischemic preconditioning were significantly improved, myocardial adenosine triphosphate and adenosine diphosphate content and superoxide dismutase activity were higher, the leakage of myocardial creatine kinase and the malondialdehyde content were lower, and myocardial water content was obviously less.CONCLUSION:These results suggest adenosine infusion before ischemic preconditioning enhances cardioprotection of ischemic preconditioning against immature myocardial reperfusion injury in the rabbit heart.     

Study on protective mechanism of non-wounded ischemic preconditioning on rat ischemia/reperfusion myocardium

AIM:To investigate probable protective mechanism of non-wounded legs ischemic preconditioning on ischemia/reperfusion(I/R) myocardium. METHODS: 36 male SD rats, weighting (250±30) g,were divided into 4 groups.They are normal control(NC);I/R; classical ischemic preconditioning(C-IPC)and non-wounded legs ischemic preconditioning(N-WIPC). NO in plasm,expression of myocardial HSP 70 mRNA, the activities of 5’-NT and CAT of myocardium were observed in all groups. RESULTS:The level of NO in plasm significantly enhanced in groups C-IPC and N-WIPC compared with that in groups I/R and NC ( P <0.01),expression of myocardial HSP 70 mRNA was greatly increased in both C-IPC and N-WIPC groups, the activities of 5’-NT, CAT of myocardium were also raised in groups C-IPC and N-WIPC ( P< 0.05 vs I/R),but there was no difference between C-IPC and N-WIPC( P >0.05). CONCLUSION:The possible protective mechanism involved in N-WIPC is similar to that in C-IPC, which is due to increase of endogenous myocardial protective substances.     

Effects of ischemic preconditioning on cardiac myocyte apoptosis and expression of bcl-2 during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion in rats

AIM:To explore the effect of ischemic preconditioning on cardiac myocyte apoptosis and the expression of bcl-2 during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion in rats. METHODS:We use TUNEL,immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization(ISH) methods to detect the cardiac myocyte apoptosis and the expression of bcl-2 during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion in rats. RESULTS:①The numbers of positive cardiac myocyte nuclear and the percentage of positive cardiac myocyte nuclear in IP+I/R_3h group decreased significantly(P<0.05,P<0.01)compared with I/R_3h group,respectively.②The numbers of bcl-2 protein positive cardiomyocyte and the percentage of bcl-2 protein positive cardiomyocyte in IP+I/R_3h group were higher(P<0.01)than that of I/R_3h group,respectively.The numbers of positive bcl-2 mRNA cardiomyocyte and the percentage of positive bcl-2 mRNA cardiomyocyte in IP+I/R_1h group were higher(P<0.01)than that of I/R_1h group,respectively.CONCLUSION:① The first window of IP's protection could reduce cardiomyocyte apoptosis significantly.② Up-regulating the protein expression of bcl-2 in cardiomyocytes during I/R may be one of the mechanisms of first window of IP's protection.     

Pretreatment with Sini decoction induces delayed preconditioning in rat heart and role of p38 MAP kinase

AIM: The present study was designed to determine whether Sini decoction (SND), a traditional Chinese medicine, induces delayed preconditioning-like effect in rat heart and the possible mechanism by which ischemia myocardium is protected. METHODS: Sprage－Dawleyt rats underwent three 5 min episodes of preconditioning ischemia 24 h prior to the global ischemia and reperfusion in ischemic preconditioning/second window of protection (IPC/SWOP) group or were pretreated with Sini decoction (5 mL·kg-1·d-1 for 3 days, the last treatment 24 h before global ischemia and reperfusion) in SND group. Myocardial infarct size, CK, LDH and NO were examined. p38 MAPK and PKC were determined by immunohistochemisty. RESULTS: Myocardial infarct size was significantly decreased, CK and LDH were decreased in the serum, NO2-/NO3- was increased in myocardial tissue in SND group as well as in IPC/SWOP group (there was no difference between the two groups). The expression of p38 MAPK and PKC were upregulated in myocardial tissue in SND and IPC/SWOP groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that Sini decoction induces delayed preconditioning-like effect in the rat heart, possibly via inducing p38 MAPK activation.     

Protective role of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC)/polyamines system in the myocardium induced by ischemic preconditioning in rats

AIM: To explore the protective role of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC)/polyamines system in the myocardium induced by ischemic preconditioning in rats.METHODS: The experiment model of simulating myocardial ischemia-reperfusion was replicated by Langendorff perfused rat heart. The hearts were randomly divided into six groups: control group, ischemic-reperfusion group (IR), weak ischemic preconditioning group (IPCw), strong ischemic preconditioning groups (IPCs) and inhibitor groups (DF-EG-IPCw and DF-EG-IPCs). The expression of ODC was quantified by Western blotting analysis. The contents of polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, spermine) in cardiac tissue were detected with high performance liquid chromatography. The hemodynamics was obtained using the PowerLab 8/SP TM data acquisition system. The infarct size was measured using triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and the apoptosis cardiomyocytes were observed under optic microscope after TUNEL method treatment. RESULTS: In contrast with control group, in IR group the putrescine contents increased, the expression of ODC was down-regulated, the contents of spermine and the total polyamine pool decreased (P<0.05). At the same time, the cardiac function declined, with an increase in myocardium infarct size and the apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes (P<0.05). When compared with IR group in terms of LVDP, HR and CF, both IPCw and IPCs groups had significant improvements in cardiac functions (P<0.05). These two groups also had smaller myocardium infarct size (P<0.01) and apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes (P<0.01). When compared with IR group, the expression of ODC, the contents of spermine and the total polyamine pool increased in both IPCw (P<0.05) and IPCs groups (P<0.01), but the putrescine contents declined. In the respective inhibitor groups of the weak and ischemic preconditioning, the expression of ODC and the levels of putrescine, spermidine, spermine and the total polyamine pool decreased remarkably (DF-EG-IPCw vs IPCw, P<0.05; DF-EG-IPCs vs IPCs, P<0.01), while the myocardium infarct size and apoptosis rate of cardiomyocyte were relatively bigger in both inhibitor groups (P<0.05). Also, the heart function decreased significantly in terms of LVDP, HR and CF compared to their matched ischemic preconditioning group (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Ischemic preconditioning significantly up-regulates the ODC / polyamines system in Langendorff perfused rat hearts and provides protective effects on myocardium with ischemia/reperfusion injury. Inhibition of bio-synthesis of polyamine abolishes the cardiac function improvement and the decreases the infarct size and apoptosis rate induced by ischemic preconditioning. It reveals that the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) /polyamines system may be involved in the protection of myocardium induced by IPC in rats.     

Effect of pretreatment with 11,12-EET on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

AIM: To examine the effect of pretreatment with low-concentration of 11, 12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid(EET) on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats. METHODS: After tracheotomy, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion was produced by occlusion and release of the left anterior descending artery(LAD) of the rats. Ischemic preconditioning(IP) was made by two times of ischemia(5 min)/reperfusion(5 min). The experiment was conducted in three groups: control,IP and pretreatment with 11,12-EET(6.24×10^-8 mol/L), and each group was subdivided into two subgroups:A,the rats were subjected to ischemia(10 min)/reperfusion(10 min) and arrhythmias during the whole periods were monitored; The rats in B were subjected to ischemia(60 min)/reperfusion(30 min) and arrhythmias, cardiac funtion and myocardial infarction size were documented. RESULTS: Both IP and pretreatment with 11,12-EET could protect the heart against arrhythmias, cardiac disfunction and myocardial infarction. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment with 11,12-EET had protective effect on myocardium in case of ischemia/reperfusion, which was similar to ischemic preconditioning.     

Preconditioning with 3-nitropropionic acid induces rat cerebral ischemic tolerance and increases expression of glucose transporter 1 and glucose transporter 3

AIM: To explore the mechanism of 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NPA) preconditioning that induces cerebral ischemic tolerance in rats by affecting the expression of brain-type glucose transporters (GLUT1 and GLUT3) at mRNA and protein levels in cerebral tissues.METHODS: The male SD rats were used in the experiments and divided randomly into sham operation group (sham group, n=4), control group of 3-NPA preconditioning (3-NPA group, n=4), cerebral ischemia group (M group, n=16) and 3-NPA preconditioning group (IPC group, n=16). M group and IPC group were further divided into 4 subgroups according to the different reperfusion time(4 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h). All rats were killed at the corresponding time points. The cerebral tissues in the ischemic side (left) and coronal intermediate 1/3 of cortex were collected. The protein levels and mRNA expression of GLUT1 and GLUT3 were determined by Western blotting and RT-PCR. RESULTS: Compared with M group, the ischemic reperfusion and 3-NPA preconditioning induced the upregulation of GLUT1 and GLUT3 at protein levels with significant differences (F=5.848, P<0.05 and F=6.295, P<0.05, respectively), especially after ischemia-reperfusion for 48 h. The mRNA expression of GLUT1 in IPC group began to increase at 4 h, peaked at 48 h after reperfusion, with significant difference as compared to M group at the corresponding reperfusion time points in each group or sham group. In contrast, the mRNA expression of GLUT3 in IPC group increased at 24 h, and was the highest at 48 h as compared to cerebral ischemia group at the corresponding reperfusion time points or sham group.CONCLUSION: 3-NPA preconditioning increases the expression of GLUT1 and GLUT3 at protein and mRNA levels to maintain the energy supply in brain tissues, indicating a cerebral protective mechanism.