Changes of ceramide and apoptosis during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion

AIM: To study the change of myocardial ceramide during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion and the relationship between ceramide and apoptosis and oxidative stress. METHODS: After inducing myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in mice with pituitrin (Pit), myocardial SOD activity and MDA content were measured. DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and fluorescent staining of DAPI were done to check up apoptosis. The content of myocardial ceramide (μg/kg) was measured through HPTLC and scan of thin plate. RESULTS: The myocardium of I/R model group had the phenomenon of DNA ladder. Apoptosis index and ceramide content in I/R model group were higher than those in normal control group (P<0.01). SOD activity in I/R modal group was lower than that in normal control group (P<0.01). The apoptosis index and ceramide content in I/R model group were positive correlative (r=0.970，P<0.01). The myocardial content of ceramide and MDA were positively correlative too (r=0.974, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that there are apoptosis, oxidative stress and increase in ceramide content in ischemia/reperfusion myocardium.