骨骼肌和心肌缺血后处理对兔缺血/再灌注心肌的保护作用

目的:观察骨骼肌缺血后处理(RPostC)、心肌的缺血后处理(MPostC)对缺血/再灌注心肌保护作用是否存在差异以及两者联合后作用是否叠加。方法:健康新西兰大白兔3O只,随机分为5组(n=6):缺血对照组(Con)、假手术组(sham)、心肌缺血后处理组(MPostC)和肢体缺血后处理组(RPostC)及心肌缺血后处理联合肢体缺血后处理组(MPostC+RPostC)。采用开胸结扎冠状动脉左室支45 min,再灌注120min方法制作缺血/再灌注模型,采用短暂结扎双侧髂外动脉固定部位5 min造成骨骼肌短暂缺血。以Evans蓝标记心肌缺血区范围,以TTC法检测梗死心肌范围,并分别于缺血前、后及再灌注1、2 h测定血浆磷酸肌酸激酶(CPK)活性和乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)含量。结果:和Con组相比,MPostC和RPostC组心肌梗死范围均明显降低(P<0.05);MPostC联合RPostC组心肌梗死范围与MPostC或RPostC组相比,均进一步降低(均P<0.05)。但MPostC组及RPostC组之间心肌坏死范围未见统计学差异。再灌注120 min末血浆CPK活性及LDH含量也显示相似趋势。结论:骨骼肌缺血后处理及心肌后处理对缺血/再灌注心肌均具有明显保护作用;且两者作用可以叠加;但骨骼肌和心肌后处理之间保护作用未显示统计学差异。     

下肢骨骼肌缺血后处理对兔缺血/再灌注心肌坏死和凋亡的影响

目的:探讨在体情况下,骨骼肌缺血后处理对兔缺血/再灌注心肌坏死和凋亡的影响。方法:新西兰大白兔36只,随机分成3组(每组随机选取6只进行梗死范围的测定,另外6只进行凋亡测定):①假手术组(Sham组);②缺血/再灌注组(I/R组);③远端后处理组(RPostC组)。在缺血前、后及再灌注60 min、120 min分别抽血测定肌酸激酶(CK),乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)的活性。采用伊文思兰(evans blue)和三苯基氯化四氮唑(TTC)染色方法确定心肌缺血区范围以及心肌坏死区范围。用Tunel法检测兔心肌缺血区细胞凋亡情况,免疫组织化学方法检测心肌缺血区蛋白caspase-3、Bcl-2及Bax的表达。结果:RPostC组心肌坏死程度、再灌注末CK活性较I/R组明显减低。RPostC组缺血区心肌Tunel阳性指数显著低于I/R组(21.79%±1.07%vs35.81%±1.10%,P<0.05)。而RPostC组缺血区心肌细胞caspase-3阳性指数显著低于I/R组(25.03%±1.16%vs39%±2.43%,P<0.05)。与Sham组比较,I/R组及RPostC组Bax蛋白表达指数、Bcl-2蛋白表达指数均升高;但RPostC组的Bax/Bcl-2比值降低,而I/R组的Bax/Bcl-2比值升高。与I/R组相比较,RPostC组Bax蛋白表达指数及Bax/Bcl-2比值显著降低,Bcl-2表达指数显著升高,差异均有统计学意义。结论:远端后处理能够明显的减少缺血/再灌注心肌细胞的坏死和凋亡,其减轻心肌细胞凋亡的机制可能与抑制促凋亡基因caspase-3的活化及Bcl-2表达的上调有关。     

缺血后处理兔心肌蛋白质组学双向凝胶电泳分析的初步研究

目的:研究缺血后处理对缺血再灌注心肌保护的相关蛋白的变化。方法:将6只新西兰大白兔随机分为两组(每组3只):心肌缺血再灌注对照组(I/R组)和缺血后处理组(P组)。两组均接受左冠状动脉前降支阻断30min,开放再灌注180min。缺血后处理组,结扎LAD30min,然后灌注30s,阻断30s,重复4次,继而再灌注直至180min,分别取各组缺血区心肌进行二维凝胶电泳,利用ImageMaster2D软件分析实验结果。结果:P组和I/R组对比,有11个蛋白表达发生了显著变化,其中表达增强的有7个蛋白,表达降低的有4个蛋白。结论:这些差异表达的蛋白可能在缺血后处理对心肌缺血再灌注损伤的保护中发挥了作用。     

缺血后处理降低高胆固醇血症大鼠心肌对缺血/再灌注损伤的易感性及其机制

目的:探讨缺血后处理对高胆固醇血症基础上发生的心肌缺血/再灌注损伤的影响及其可能的机制。方法:建立食源性高胆固醇血症大鼠模型,运用TTC染色、酶活性检测等方法测定缺血/再灌注所致的心肌损伤,用实时定量RT-PCR方法检测心肌组织中低氧诱导因子-1α(HIF-1α)mRNA水平,用Western blot方法检测HIF-1α蛋白水平。结果:高胆固醇血症加重了缺血/再灌注造成的心肌损伤,而缺血后处理显著缩小了高胆固醇血症大鼠缺血/再灌注所致的心梗面积,降低了血清肌酸激酶(CK)的活性,减少了心肌细胞凋亡。同时,缺血后处理提高了高胆固醇血症大鼠缺血心肌组织中HIF-1α的蛋白水平。结论:缺血后处理可以降低高胆固醇血症大鼠心肌对缺血/再灌注损伤的敏感性,其效应与心肌组织中HIF-1α的蛋白水平存在着相关性。     

桑叶总黄酮预处理对大鼠缺血再灌注损伤心肌抗氧化作用的研究

为研究桑叶总黄酮预处理对缺血再灌注损伤心肌的抗氧化作用,采用结扎左冠状动脉前降支30min,再灌注2h的方法制备大鼠心肌缺血再灌注损伤模型。将50只大鼠随机分为假手术组、缺血再灌注损伤模型组和桑叶总黄酮高、中、低剂量预处理组,每组10只。实验结束后,取动脉血和心脏。测定各组血清生化指标肌酸激酶(CK)和乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)的含量;测定心肌生化指标超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)的活性和丙二醛(MDA)的含量。结果显示,与模型组相比,桑叶总黄酮预处理组使血清中的CK、LDH含量明显降低,同时使心肌组织中的SOD活性提高,MDA含量降低。结果表明,桑叶总黄酮预处理对缺血再灌注损伤心肌有明显的保护作用,其机制可能与提高心肌SOD活性、清除自由基、增强抗氧化能力有关。     

依达拉奉通过JNK对大鼠离体心肌缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的:研究依达拉奉(Edaravone)对大鼠离体心肌缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用.方法:将54只SD大鼠随机分为3组,包括对照组(control group),缺血再灌注组(I/R group),依达拉奉组(Ed group).灌注液为K-H液,37℃下建立心肌缺血再灌注模型,预灌注15min,缺血30min,再灌注40 min,分别测量①复灌20和40min时心功能指标:心率(HR)、左室收缩压(LVDP)、左室舒张末压(LVEDP)、心室内压最大变化速率(±dp/dtmax),②复灌20和40 min时肌酸激酶(CK)和乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)活性,③复灌40 min时超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性和和丙二醛(MDA)浓度,④复灌40min时心肌梗死面积,⑤复灌40min时心肌组织中JNK的磷酸化水平.结果:①依达拉奉组的±dp/dtmax明显回升(P<0.05),同时LVEDP、LVDP等指标也有明显改善(P<0.05);②再灌注40min时,与缺血再灌注组比,依达拉奉明显降低LDH和CK;③依达拉奉能显著降低MDA浓度,同时提高SOD水平(P<0.05);④依达拉奉组心肌梗死面积小于缺血再灌注组(P<0.05);⑤依达拉奉降低缺血心肌组织中磷酸化JNK的水平(P<0.05).结论:依达拉奉可以改善缺血心肌的血流动力学,增加心肌收缩力,减少心肌梗死面积;能发挥清除氧自由基,扭转氧化与抗氧化平衡系统失调的作用;其对离体心肌缺血再灌注的保护作用可能与JNK途径密切相关.     

藏药莪达夏醇提物对大鼠心肌缺血-再灌注损伤的保护作用

本实验探讨藏药莪达夏对大鼠急性心肌缺血再灌注损伤的抗氧化保护作用。采用结扎大鼠冠脉左前降支方法造成心肌缺血再灌注模型,测定再灌注40 min后血清中乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、肌酸激酶(CK)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷肤甘肤过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性以及MDA含量。实验结果显示莪达夏可以显著降低心肌缺血再灌注后血清CK、LDH和MDA含量,升高血清SOD和GSH-Px活力(P0.01,P0.05)。表明藏药莪达夏对缺血-再灌注心肌损伤有抗氧化保护作用。     

后处理对心肌缺血再灌注致脑损伤中炎症因子及GFAP的影响

目的:探讨缺血后处理对心肌缺血再灌注致脑损伤中炎症因子及胶质纤维酸性蛋白的影响。方法:24只雄性SD大鼠随机分为3组(n=8),假手术组(Sham)、心肌缺血/再灌注组(IR)、后处理组(IPost)。结扎大鼠冠状动脉左前降支30 min,复流120 min建立大鼠心肌缺血/再灌注模型。后处理组于再灌注前进行缺血后处理,再灌注10 s,缺血10 s,共3次。断头处死大鼠取脑组织,光镜下观察病理学结果,Western blot检测炎性因子IL-6、IL-8、IL-10,免疫组化法检测GFAP。结果:与Sham组相比较,IR组脑组织炎症因子IL-6,IL-8表达增加,IL-10下降(P0.01),而后处理可以降低脑组织中IL-6,IL-8的表达,增加IL-10的表达(P0.01);与Sham组相比较,IR组脑组织GFAP表达增多(P0.05),而后处理可以显著增加脑组织中GFAP的表达(P0.01)。结论:心肌缺血后处理可以减少脑组织中炎症因子的表达,增加GFAP的表达,从而起到脑保护作用。     

L-精氨酸对大鼠心肌相对缺血/再灌注损伤保护作用的研究

目的:探索L-精氨酸(L-Arg)对心肌相对缺血/再灌损伤的保护作用,为研究抗心肌损伤的保护措施提供依据.方法:Wastar大鼠24只,随机分为对照组、相对缺血损伤组和相对缺血损伤 L-精氨酸组.采用高频阈上电刺激大鼠离体心脏建立离体心肌相对缺血/再灌注模型,分别于相对缺血前、缺血后15 min和30 min收集冠脉流出液,测定丙二醛(MDA)含量、肌酸激酶(CK)和乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)活性;采用Pclab生物信号采集处理系统测定相对缺血损伤后5 min、10 min、20 min和30 min时的心率脉压乘积(PRP)、左心室收缩压变化速率( DP/dtmax)和舒张压变化速率(-Dp/dtmAx)的恢复率.结果:L-精氨酸组的PRP、 DP/dtmax和-Dp/dtmax恢复率,明显优于相对缺血损伤组(P＜0.05);L-精氨酸组的冠脉流出液和心肌组织中的丙二醛(MDA)含量、肌酸激酶(CK)和乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)活性,低于相对缺血损伤组(P＜0.05),而L-精氨酸组的心肌超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性高于缺血组(P＜0.01).结论:L-精氨酸对心肌相对缺血/再灌损伤具有一定的保护作用.     

缺血后处理、ATP后处理减轻兔缺血再灌注损伤:与腺苷受体激活有关

目的:近期实验研究显示,在再灌注的早期给予短暂、重复的缺血再灌(缺血后处理Postconditioning)能够减轻心肌再灌注损伤。本实验旨在探明三磷酸腺苷(ATP)用于缺血后处理是否产生上述保护效应,以及了解腺苷受体在此保护作用机制中的地位。方法:家兔开胸后左前降支均给予40min结扎和180min的再灌注,并随机分为5组:(1)对照组;(2)缺血后处理组;(3)ATP后处理组;(4)缺血后处理 SPT(硫苯茶碱)组;(5)SPT对照组。于实验终点测定心肌梗死面积(TTC染色),血浆CK-MB、SOD、MDA含量。结果:和时照组相比,缺血后处理组与ATP后处理组心梗面积减少(p<0．05),CK-MB也显著降低(p相似文献   

Differential effects of postconditioning on myocardial stunning and infarction: a study in conscious dogs and anesthetized rabbits

Postconditioning, i.e., brief intermittent episodes of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion performed at the onset of reperfusion, reduces infarct size after prolonged ischemia. Our goal was to determine whether postconditioning is protective against myocardial stunning. Accordingly, conscious chronically instrumented dogs (sonomicrometry, coronary balloon occluder) were subjected to a control sequence (10 min coronary artery occlusion, CAO, followed by coronary artery reperfusion, CAR) and a week apart to postconditioning with four cycles of brief CAR and CAO performed at completion of the 10 min CAO. Three postconditioning protocols were investigated, i.e., 15 s CAR/15 s CAO (n=5), 30 s CAR/30 s CAO (n=7), and 1 min CAR/1 min CAO (n=6). Left ventricular wall thickening was abolished during CAO and similarly reduced during subsequent stunning in control and postconditioning sequences (e.g., at 1 h CAR, 33+/-4 vs. 34+/-4%, 30+/-4 vs. 30+/-4%, and 33+/-4 vs. 32+/-4% for 15 s postconditioning, 30 s postconditioning, and 1 min postconditioning vs. corresponding control, respectively). We confirmed this result in anesthetized rabbits by demonstrating that shortening of left ventricular segment length was similarly depressed after 10 min CAO in control and postconditioning sequences (4 cycles of 30 s CAR/30 s CAO). In additional rabbits, the same postconditioning protocol significantly reduced infarct size after 30 min CAO and 3 h CAR (39+/-7%, n=6 vs. 56+/-4%, n=7 of the area at risk in postconditioning vs. control, respectively). Thus, contrasting to its beneficial effects on myocardial infarction, postconditioning does not protect against myocardial stunning in dogs and rabbits. Conversely, additional episodes of ischemia-reperfusion with postconditioning do not worsen myocardial stunning.     

钙网蛋白参与缺血后处理减轻大鼠骨骼肌缺血/再灌注损伤

本实验分别在整体和细胞水平观察缺血后处理（ischemic postconditioning,I-postC）对骨骼肌缺血／再灌注（ischemia／reperfusion,I／R）损伤的影响,并探讨钙网蛋白（calreticulin,CRT）介导的信号转导机制。（1）整体实验：健康雄性Wistar大鼠48只,无创动脉夹夹闭右侧股动脉4h,松夹再灌注12h或24h建立大鼠右后肢I／R损伤模型,随机分为I／R组、缺血预处理（ischemic preconditioning,IPC）组（5min缺血／5min再灌,3个循环）和I-postC组（1min再灌／1min缺血,3个循环）（n=16）,大鼠左后肢做对照处理。再灌注结束时测定血浆乳酸脱氢酶（1actate dehydrogenase,LDH）活性、骨骼肌湿干重比值（wet／dryweightratio,W／D）;电镜观察骨骼肌超微结构变化：Westernblot检测骨骼肌CRT、钙调神经磷酸酶（calcineurin,CaN）的表达。（2）细胞培养实验：原代培养Sprague-Dawley乳鼠骨骼肌细胞,随机分为6组：正常对照组、缺氧／复氧（hypoxia／reoxygenation,H／R）组、缺氧预处理（hypoxic preconditioning,HPC）组、缺氧后处理（hypoxic postconditioning,H-postC）组、CaN抑制剂环孢素A（cyclosporine,CsA）＋H／R组和CsA＋H-postC组。台盼蓝排斥实验、流式细胞仪检测细胞损伤情况：Westernblot检测骨骼肌细胞CRT和CaN的表达。结果显示：（1）在整体动物实验中,I-postC可显著降低血浆LDH活性和组织水肿,骨骼肌超微结构损伤减轻,无细胞核凋亡现象,与IPC组相比无显著差异。I-postC再灌注12h和24hCRT表达分别较I／R12h和24h组高4．39倍和1．02倍（P〈0．05）,CaN表达分别增高1．96倍和0．63倍（尸〈0．05）。相关分析显示CRT表达与CaN表达呈正相关（r-0．865,P〈0．01）。（2）在细胞培养实验中,H-postC可减轻H／R诱导的骨骼肌细胞凋亡,增加细胞存活率,与HPC组相比无显著差异,CsA可抑制H-postC的保护作用;H-postC可上调CRT和CaN的表达,分别较H／R组增加31．8％（P〈0．05）和6．02％,加入CsA后CaN表达降低44．02％（P〈0．05vsH-postC）。上述整体实验和细胞培养实验结果提示,I-postC与IPC保护作用相似,可显著减轻I／R损伤;CRT上调介导的CaN表达增加可能参与了I-postC的保护作用,抑制CaN表达可降低I-postC的保护作用。     

Apelin-13 limits infarct size and improves cardiac postischemic mechanical recovery only if given after ischemia

We studied whether apelin-13 is cardioprotective against ischemia/reperfusion injury if given as either a pre- or postconditioning mimetic and whether the improved postischemic mechanical recovery induced by apelin-13 depends only on the reduced infarct size or also on a recovery of function of the viable myocardium. We also studied whether nitric oxide (NO) is involved in apelin-induced protection and whether the reported ischemia-induced overexpression of the apelin receptor (APJ) plays a role in cardioprotection. Langendorff-perfused rat hearts underwent 30 min of global ischemia and 120 min of reperfusion. Left ventricular pressure was recorded. Infarct size and lactate dehydrogenase release were determined to evaluate the severity of myocardial injury. Apelin-13 was infused at 0.5 μM concentration for 20 min either before ischemia or in early reperfusion, without and with NO synthase inhibition by N(G)-nitro-l-arginine (l-NNA). In additional experiments, before ischemia also 1 μM apelin-13 was tested. APJ protein level was measured before and after ischemia. Whereas before ischemia apelin-13 (0.5 and 1.0 μM) was ineffective, after ischemia it reduced infarct size from 54 ± 2% to 26 ± 4% of risk area (P < 0.001) and limited the postischemic myocardial contracture (P < 0.001). l-NNA alone increased postischemic myocardial contracture. This increase was attenuated by apelin-13, which, however, was unable to reduce infarct size. Ischemia increased APJ protein level after 15-min perfusion, i.e., after most of reperfusion injury has occurred. Apelin-13 protects the heart only if given after ischemia. In this protection NO plays an important role. Apelin-13 efficiency as postconditioning mimetic cannot be explained by the increased APJ level.     

Adaptation in properties of skeletal muscle to coronary artery occlusion/reperfusion in rats

The present study was designed to determine if changes in function and metabolism of heart muscle induce alterations in characteristics of skeletal muscle. We investigated the histochemical and biochemical properties of soleus (SOL) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles in Wistar rats at the chronic phase after coronary artery occlusion/reperfusion. The size of myocardial infarct region was evaluated using a high resolution pinhole single photo emission computed tomography (SPECT) system. 4 wk after left coronary artery occlusion/reperfusion, the SOL and EDL of hindlimb were dissected out and immersed in isopentane cooled with liquid nitrogen for subsequent histochemical and biochemical analysis. From SPECT imaging, the blood circulation was recovered, but the recovery of fatty acid metabolism was not observed in infarct region of heart. Citrate synthase (CS) and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HAD) activities in infarct region of heart were lower in the myocardial infarction (MI, n = 6) group compared with that of age-matched sham-operated (Sham, n = 6) group. In addition, heart muscle hypertrophy caused by the dysfunction in MI group was observed. In skeletal muscle, the atrophy and transition of fiber type distribution in MI group, reported in previous studies of heart failure, were not observed. However, the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity in the slow twitch oxidative (SO) from SOL of MI group decreased by 9.8% and in the fast twitch oxidative glycolytic fibers (FOG), 8.0% as compared with sham group. Capillary density of the SO fibers from SOL of MI group also reduced by 18.5% and in the FOG fibers, 18.2% as compared with Sham group. Decreased capillary density in this study related significantly to decreased SDH activity of single muscle fibers in chronic phase of perfusion after surgical infarction. Our results make it clear that there is a difference in the reaction of skeletal muscle to coronary artery occlusion/reperfusion compared with chronic heart failure. However, our data would support the notion that there is a linkage between the function of heart and physiological properties of skeletal muscle.     

一氧化氮在乙醇后处理心肌保护中的作用

目的:探讨乙醇后处理心肌保护作用是否与一氧化氮生成有关。方法:局部结扎冠状动脉左前降支30min,复灌120 min复制离体大鼠心肌缺血/复灌模型。心肌缺血末5 min,复灌初期10min给予乙醇50mmol/L,共灌流15 min进行乙醇后处理干预。实验随机分为五组,正常组,缺血/复灌组,乙醇后处理组,乙醇后处理+L-NAME组和乙醇后处理+苍术苷组。测定心室动力学指标和复灌期间冠脉流出液中乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)含量,TTC染色法测定心肌梗死面积,硝酸还原法测定心肌组织一氧化氮(NO)含量。RT-PCR检测左心室前壁心尖组织Bc-l2和BaxmRNA的表达。结果:与单纯缺血/复灌相比,乙醇后处理明显促进了左室发展压、左室做功的恢复,降低复灌期冠脉流出液中LDH的释放和心肌梗死面积,心肌组织NO释放减少,Bc-l 2/Bax mRNA比值增高。一氧化氮合酶抑制剂L-NAME和线粒体渗透性转换孔道开放剂苍术苷均抑制了乙醇后处理心室功能的恢复、LDH释放的减少和梗死面积的降低,心肌组织NO释放进一步减少,Bc-l 2/Bax mRNA比值降低。结论:乙醇后处理的心肌保护作用可能与减少NO的释放、抑制线粒体渗透性转换孔道的开放和抑制细胞凋亡的发生有关。     

高氧液预处理对兔心肌缺血再灌注损伤的影响

目的:研究高氧液预处理对兔心肌缺血再灌注损伤的影响。方法:雄性新西兰白兔32只,随机分为4组(n=8),结扎-开放冠状动脉左前降支(LAD)建立心肌缺血再灌注模型。假手术组(Sham组)只穿线环绕LAD不结扎;吸氧组(OX组)结扎前30 min经鼻吸纯氧2L/min;在结扎LAD前30 min分别静脉注射HO 10 ml/kg(HO1组)、20 ml/kg(HO2组)。于结扎LAD前即刻(T0,基础值)、开放LAD前即刻(T1)、再灌注60 min(T2)及再灌注120 min(T3)时记录HR和MAP,于T3时抽取动脉血样3 ml,测定血清肌酸激酶(CK)、肌钙蛋白I(cTNI)的活性和IL-6和TNF-α的浓度,并测定心肌梗死范围。结果:I/S组与T0时比较,T 1-3时各组HR、MAP进行性下降(P<0.05);三组间HR、MAP比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。与Sham组比较,I/S组血清CK、cTNI、IL-6和TNF-α含量明显升高(P 0.01);与OX组比较,HO2组上述酶及炎症因子浓度显著下降(P<0.01),心肌梗死范围减小(P<0.05)。结论:高氧液预处理可减轻兔心肌缺血再灌注损伤,机制可能与其抑制炎性反应有关。     

Anti-inflammatory effect of exendin-4 postconditioning during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion

High mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) plays an important role in myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury. Preconditioning of exendin-4 (Ex), a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, has been reported to attenuate myocardial I/R injury. The current study investigated whether Ex postconditioning also attenuated myocardial I/R injury and the potential mechanisms. Anesthetized male rats were subjected to ischemia for 30 min and treated with Ex (5 μg/kg, i.v.) 5 min before reperfusion, in the absence and/or presence of exendin (9–39) (an antagonist of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor, 5 μg/kg, i.v.), followed by reperfusion for 4 h. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and infarct size were measured. HMGB1 expression was assessed by immunoblotting. Postconditioning with Ex significantly decreased infarct size and levels of LDH and CK after 4 h reperfusion (all p < 0.05). Ex also significantly inhibited the increase in malondialdehyde level and decreased the level of superoxide dismutase (both p < 0.05). In addition, the increase in HMGB1 expression induced by I/R was significantly attenuated by Ex postconditioning. Administration of exendin (9–39) abolished the protective effect of Ex postconditioning (all p < 0.05). The present study suggests that Ex postconditioning may attenuate myocardial I/R injury, which may in turn be associated with inhibiting inflammation.     

Prolonged transient acidosis during early reperfusion contributes to the cardioprotective effects of postconditioning

We have previously reported that the prolonged transient acidosis during early reperfusion mediates the cardioprotective effects in canine hearts. Recently, postconditioning has been shown to be one of the novel strategies to mediate cardioprotection. We tested the contribution of the prolonged transient acidosis to the cardioprotection of postconditioning. Open-chest anesthetized dogs subjected to 90-min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery and 6-h reperfusion were divided into four groups: 1) control group; no intervention after reperfusion (n = 6); 2) postconditioning (Postcon) group; four cycles of 1-min reperfusion and 1-min reocclusion (n = 7); 3) Postcon + sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO(3)) group; four cycles of 1-min reperfusion and 1-min reocclusion with the administration of NaHCO(3) (n = 8); and 4) NaHCO(3) group; administration of NaHCO(3) without postconditioning (n = 6). Infarct size, the area at risk (AAR), collateral blood flow during ischemia, and pH in coronary venous blood were measured. The phosphorylation of Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in ischemic myocardium was assessed by Western blot analysis. Systemic hemodynamic parameters, AAR, and collateral blood flow were not different among the four groups. Postconditioning induced prolonged transient acidosis during the early reperfusion phase. Administration of NaHCO(3) completely abolished the infarct size-limiting effects of postconditioning. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of Akt and ERK in ischemic myocardium induced by postconditioning was also blunted by the cotreatment of NaHCO(3). In conclusion, postconditioning mediates its cardioprotective effects possibly via prolonged transient acidosis during the early reperfusion phase with the activation of Akt and ERK.