复合天然抗氧化制剂的抗氧化、抗运动疲劳、抗神经细胞氧化损伤作用研究

目的:观察复合天然抗氧化剂的抗氧化性能,抗运动疲劳及抗神经细胞氧化损伤的作用。方法:①采用光照核黄素生成O.2-,采用Fenton反应生成.OH,采用脂类过氧化反应生成L.,用顺磁波谱仪记录电子自旋共振ESR波谱。②建立力竭游泳运动模型,测定各组小鼠力竭性游泳的持续时间。③用氮蓝四唑NBT法测定肝脏和骨骼肌中SOD活力。④用硫代巴比妥酸TBA荧光比色法测定肝脏和骨骼肌中MDA的生成量。⑤测定经FeSo4处理后的脑细胞存活率和凋亡率。结果:①各实验组较对照组的电子自旋共振ESR波谱峰值显著降低,复合天然抗氧化制剂对O.-2和.OH有极强的清除作用,有效抑制脂质过氧化反应。②实验组较实验对照组游泳时间显著延长(P0.01);③实验组肝脏中SOD活力显著低于空白对照组(P0.01);实验组骨骼肌中SOD活力与空白对照组无显著差异(P0.05);实验对照组肝脏、骨骼肌中SOD活力显著低于空白对照组(P0.01,P0.05);实验组肝脏、骨骼肌中SOD活力显著高于实验对照组。④实验组肝脏和骨骼肌中MDA含量显著低于实验对照组(P0.01,P0.05);实验对照组肝脏和骨骼肌中MDA含量显著高于空白对照组(P0.01)。⑤实验组的细胞存活率明显高于实验对照组;空白对照组细胞的凋亡率低于实验组,实验组细胞的凋亡率低于实验对照组。结论:复合天然抗氧化制剂具有较强的抗氧化性能、抗运动疲劳及抗神经细胞氧化损伤作用。     

内质网应激预处理条件下大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注损伤模型的建立

目的:通过建立了内质网应激预处理条件下的大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注损伤模型,探讨内质网应激预处理在体内的应用.方法:以衣霉素为内质网应激诱导剂,采用大鼠肝脏70%缺血再灌注损伤模型.按照不同给药剂量分为50μ g/kg组、100μ g,kg组、200μ g/kg组、对照组,观察不同给药剂量条件下,血清转氨酶水平的变化.结果:给药100μ g/kg体重、诱导5天条件下大鼠术后转氨酶水平显著低于对照组.其它组与对照组无统计学差异.肝组织病理切片证实该预处理条件对肝脏缺血再灌注损伤有显著保护作用.结论:在特定的给药剂量条件下,衣霉素诱导的内质网应激预处理对大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注损伤有显著的保护作用.     

维生素E对三氯乙烯急性染毒大鼠

本文观察了用抗氧化剂维生素E预处理后,三氯乙烯(3000mg/kg B.W.)一次性经口染毒24h大鼠肝脏的超氧化物歧化酶、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶等抗氧化酶活力及丙二醛含量的变化,结果表明三氯乙烯染毒组肝脏中丙二醛含量、超氧化物歧化酶活力及血清谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶活力均高于对照组(P＜0.01);而维生素E干预组的丙二醛含量、超氧化物歧化酶活力及血清谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶活力均分别低于三氯乙烯染毒组(P＜0.01),说明三氯乙烯急性染毒可引起肝脏脂质过氧化反应及肝损害,肝脏超氧化物歧化酶活力升高可能是机体受自由基及脂质过氧化反应刺激而诱导产生的一种适应性反应,维生素E对三氯乙烯所致的肝损害有一定的保护作用。     

活血化瘀注射液Ⅰ号对大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注损伤后P38 MAP kinase的表达情况影响研究

目的:研究活血化淤注射液Ⅰ号(HHI-Ⅰ)对肝脏缺血再灌注损伤后P38 MAP kinase的表达情况影响,为HHI-Ⅰ在临床防治肝缺血再灌注损伤的应用提供理论指导和技术支持。方法:清洁级健康雄性SD大鼠60只,体重250g左右,随机分为3组:假手术对照组(Ⅰ组)、缺血再灌注组(Ⅱ组)、HHI-Ⅰ预处理组(Ⅲ组),每组20只。分别建立大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注模型,免疫组织化学法测定肝脏缺血30min再灌注3h后组织中丝裂原活化蛋白激酶p38(P38 MAP kinase)的表达情况。结果:肝脏组织中P38 MAP kinase的表达Ⅱ、Ⅲ组高于Ⅰ组(P<0.05),Ⅲ组低于Ⅱ组(P<0.05)。结论:HHI-Ⅰ预处理可抑制P38 MAP kinase的表达,对大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注损伤有保护作用。     

蛋白和抗氧化剂对离心运动后肌肉功能和疼痛的影响

大量研究证实补充蛋白质或抗氧化剂均可有效提高机体的运动能力,然而,蛋白质和抗氧化剂联用的效果尚不清楚。本研究将60只SD大鼠随机分为4组,安静组(CG)、运动组(EG)、蛋白组(PG)和蛋白+抗氧化剂组(PAG),每组15只。PG组大鼠按照0.5 g/kg的剂量灌胃乳清蛋白溶液,PAG组大鼠按照0.5 g/kg的剂量灌胃乳清蛋白和抗氧化剂(富含花青素的浆果提取物)溶液。CG和EG组大鼠灌胃等体积的蒸馏水,共灌胃1周。然后,EG、PG和PAG组大鼠进行90 min的离心运动。采用机械缩足阈值来反映各组大鼠离心运动后的肌肉酸痛程度,研究显示,离心运动48 h后,PG组和PAG组大鼠的机械缩足阈值明显高于EG组,并且PG组和PAG组高于PG组。多项研究均显示,IL-6、IL-1β、MG53和MyoD参与肌肉的损伤及修复过程。本研究检测了上述因子的变化情况,发现大鼠在离心运动48 h后,后胫骨前肌组织中IL-6、IL-1β、MG53和MyoD的蛋白表达水平均显著升高,而蛋白+抗氧化剂可显著抑制上述指标的升高。苏木精伊红(HE)染色显示,离心运动48 h后,运动组大鼠的肌纤维受损程度达39.43%,显著高于蛋白组(23.54%)和蛋白+抗氧化剂组(8.42%)。此外,蛋白和抗氧化剂可显著抑制离心运动诱导的血清肌酸激酶的升高,并提高超氧化物歧化酶的活性。本研究证实蛋白联合抗氧化剂可有效减少离心运动引起的肌肉损伤、抑制机体的炎症反应并降低肌肉酸痛程度。     

大鼠肢体缺血预处理对肝缺血/再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的：研究肢体缺血预处理对大鼠肝缺血/再灌注损伤是否具有保护作用。方法：雄性SD大鼠32只,随机分为对照组（S组）;缺血/再灌注组（I/R组）;经典缺血预处理组（IPC组）;肢体缺血预处理组（远端缺血预处理组,RPC组）。S组仅行开腹,不作其他处理;IPC组以肝缺血5min作预处理;RPC组以双后肢缺血5min,反复3次作预处理,2个预处理组及I/R组均行肝缺血1h再灌注3h。取血用于血清谷丙转氨酶（ALT）与血清谷草转氨酶（AST）检测。切取肝组织用于测定湿干比（W/D）、中性粒细胞（PMN）计数及观察显微、超微结构的变化。结果：与I/R组比较,IPC组,RPC组ALT,AST,W/D值,及PMN计数均明显降低（P〈0.01）,肝脏的显微及超微结构损伤减轻。结论：肢体缺血预处理对大鼠肝脏I/R损伤有明显的保护作用,强度与经典缺血预处理相当,其机制可能与抑制肝脏炎症反应、减轻肝脏水肿、改善肝组织微循环有关。     

维生素E对三氯乙烯急性染毒大鼠肝脏脂质过氧化与抗氧化酶的影响

本文观察了用抗氧化剂维生素E预处理后,三氯乙烯(3000mg/kg B-W-) 一次性经口染毒24h 大鼠肝脏的超氧化物歧化酶、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶等抗氧化酶活力及丙二醛含量的变化,结果表明三氯乙烯染毒组肝脏中丙二醛含量、超氧化物歧化酶活力及血清谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶活力均高于对照组(P< 0-01) ;而维生素E干预组的丙二醛含量、超氧化物歧化酶活力及血清谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶活力均分别低于三氯乙烯染毒组(P< 0-01) ,说明三氯乙烯急性染毒可引起肝脏脂质过氧化反应及肝损害,肝脏超氧化物歧化酶活力升高可能是机体受自由基及脂质过氧化反应刺激而诱导产生的一种适应性反应,维生素E对三氯乙烯所致的肝损害有一定的保护作用。     

肝脏缺血预处理对肝细胞分离、冻存效果的影响

大量研究表明,对肝脏进行缺血预处理（ischemic preconditioning,IPC）对肝脏保护有重要意义,IPC能够提高肝脏对缺血再灌注损伤的耐受能力.但IPC对分离后的肝细胞是否具有同样的保护作用,目前尚无报道.本研究旨在明确在对大鼠肝细胞分离以前对大鼠肝脏进行缺血预处理是否可以提高肝细胞分离和冻存的效果.在本研究中,30只SD大鼠,随机分为3组（G1,G2,G3）,在对大鼠肝脏进行分离以前,对G2和G3组大鼠分别进行5和10min的缺血预处理,10min后再进行肝细胞分离,G1组大鼠则不进行特殊处理.分离后,比较各组肝细胞产量及存活率.将所得的肝细胞分别冻存14,28天后进行肝细胞的复苏,对各组肝细胞的存活率、细胞活性（四唑盐比色实验）、冻存液LDH漏出浓度3项指标进行对比分析.研究发现,缺血预处理组的大鼠肝细胞（G2,G3）在肝细胞的活率、MTT实验、冻存液的LDH浓度测定等方面均优于对照组.由此可见,在肝细胞分离之前,对肝脏实施缺血预处理能够明显提高所分离肝细胞的存活率,还可以提高肝细胞短期内的冻存效果.但相对大鼠肝脏进行缺血预处理的时间,5和10min并没有明显的统计学差异.     

不同剂量乳化异氟醚预处理对大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用

摘要 目的：探究不同剂量乳化异氟醚预处理对大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用。方法：将48只成年雄性大鼠随机分为六组：假手术组、缺血对照组、脂肪乳组、低剂量乳化异氟醚组、中剂量乳化异氟醚组和高剂量乳化异氟醚组,每组8只。检测血清中酶的含量,观察肝细胞损伤程度,直观的反应乳化异氟醚预处理对肝脏缺血再灌注损伤的影响。结果：不同组别大鼠肝脏再灌注后ALT、AST、LDH和MDA含量,SOD活性和肝细胞坏死比例均具有显著差异,随着再灌注时间的延长,各组大鼠血清ALT、AST和LDH含量均明显增加（均P＜0.05）。再灌注后1 h、2 h和4 h中剂量乳化异氟醚组大鼠血清ALT、AST和LDH含量均显著低于缺血对照组、低剂量乳化异氟醚组和高剂量乳化异氟醚组（均P＜0.05）。中剂量乳化异氟醚组大鼠肝组织匀浆中MDA含量和肝细胞坏死比例均显著低于缺血对照组、低剂量乳化异氟醚组和高剂量乳化异氟醚组,SOD活性显著高于缺血对照组、低剂量乳化异氟醚组和高剂量乳化异氟醚组（均P＜0.05）。结论：中等剂量乳化异氟醚预处理组中血清中酶含量最低,肝组织匀浆中MDA含量最低,SOD活性水平最高,肝细胞损伤程度最轻,对大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注的保护作用最好。     

建立新生大鼠吸入麻醉模型及异氟醚对其海马凋亡的影响

目的:建立新生大鼠吸入麻醉模型并探讨吸入麻醉药异氟醚对其海马凋亡的影响。方法:Penlon Prima SP麻醉机、异氟醚挥发罐及自制带进出气口的麻醉小室。共55只7日龄的SD大鼠用于实验。将其中35只大鼠随机分为7组(n=5)。实验组(Ⅰ-Ⅵ组)异氟醚挥发罐刻度分别为0.125%,0.25%,0.5%,1%,1.5%,2%;新生大鼠置于自制密封麻醉小室内,分别通入含上述异氟醚浓度的混合气体。对照组(第Ⅶ组)给予未混合异氟醚的30%的氧气。将小室安放于37℃恒温箱内。调节气体流量2L/min。实验组于通入气体5,10,15,30,90,180,360 min(T1-7)时于小室出口处抽取10mL气体,采用气相色谱法测定麻醉小室内异氟醚浓度。于通入气体360 min(T7)自新生大鼠左心室采血行血气分析;另取SD大鼠20只,随机分为对照组(C组,n=10),1.5%异氟醚组(I组,n=10),按上述方法建立异氟醚吸入麻醉模型,麻醉结束后2h处死大鼠,采用免疫组织化学法观察C组和I组大鼠大脑海马区Active caspase-3的表达。结果:①麻醉小室出口异氟醚浓度(Y)与麻醉机挥发罐异氟醚浓度(X)的直线回归方程为Y=1.5472X-0.0575(r=0.9993)。②血气分析结果显示:Ⅰ-Ⅵ组与Ⅶ组血气分析组间差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。③免疫组化结果显示:与C组相比,I组大鼠海马Active caspase-3明显增加,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:通过麻醉机、异氟醚挥发罐及自制密封带进出气口的麻醉小室成功建立了新生大鼠异氟醚麻醉模型;为进一步研究异氟醚及相关吸入麻醉药对突触发生期的神经毒性提供了实验基础。     

In vivo detection of free radicals induced by diethylnitrosamine in rat liver tissue

Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) is a well-known carcinogenic substance that requires microsomal activation before it can react with DNA to cause mutations and cancer. The aim of this study was to use in vivo spin trapping and spin probe techniques to investigate whether free radicals are generated in rat liver tissue during DEN activation. We used alpha-phenyl-n-tert-butylnitrone (PBN) as the spin trapping agent, which was delivered through an intraperitoneal injection before DEN administration. One hour after DEN administration, multicomponent PBN adducts in the bile were detected, and the intensities were diminished by the cytochrome P450 inhibitor SKF-525A. A computer simulation of the ESR signals revealed the presence of a lipid-derived radical. Using the in vivo spin probe/ESR technique, the signal decay rate of methoxycarbonyl-PROXYL was significantly increased in the DEN-treated group compared with the rate in the vehicle group. The enhanced signal decay rate was restored with PBN and/or SKF-525A pretreatment. These results suggested that lipid-derived free radicals were generated in the liver within 1 h after DEN administration.     

An ESR contrast agent is transported to rat liver through organic anion transporter

Carboxy PROXYL is a useful extracellular paramagnetic contrast reagent in electron spin resonance (ESR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Active transfer of the probe was investigated using an in situ liver model in rats. Carboxy PROXYL, a nitroxyl spin probe, was perfused into in situ liver perfusion system from Wistar rats. Concentration of nitroxyl form of the spin probe in effluent increased gradually after introducing perfusate with the spin probe and reached a plateau. The disappearance of Carboxy PROXYL from the perfusate was 40%, which could not be explained with its partition coefficient. Administration of non-selective inhibitors of organic anion transporters, p-aminohippuric acid and penicillin G, inhibited competitively and in a dose dependent manner the transfer of Carboxy PROXYL into rat liver in situ, resulting in increases of Carboxy PROXYL in the effluent. The results demonstrate that there is an active transfer system of an ESR contrast reagent into in situ rat liver through organic anion transporters.     

An ESR contrast agent is transported to rat liver through organic anion transporter

Carboxy PROXYL is a useful extracellular paramagnetic contrast reagent in electron spin resonance (ESR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Active transfer of the probe was investigated using an in situ liver model in rats. Carboxy PROXYL, a nitroxyl spin probe, was perfused into in situ liver perfusion system from Wistar rats. Concentration of nitroxyl form of the spin probe in effluent increased gradually after introducing perfusate with the spin probe and reached a plateau. The disappearance of Carboxy PROXYL from the perfusate was 40%, which could not be explained with its partition coefficient. Administration of non-selective inhibitors of organic anion transporters, p-aminohippuric acid and penicillin G, inhibited competitively and in a dose dependent manner the transfer of Carboxy PROXYL into rat liver in situ, resulting in increases of Carboxy PROXYL in the effluent. The results demonstrate that there is an active transfer system of an ESR contrast reagent into in situ rat liver through organic anion transporters.     

热休克蛋白质70对大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注后NOS活力的影响

目的为探讨热应激预处理对肝脏缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用的机制,采用局部热应激处理诱导热休克蛋白质(HSP70)的表达,检测了HSP70对肝脏缺血再灌注时NOS活力的影响。方法将实验大鼠随机分为热应激预处理组与非预处理组,对比观察两组动物肝脏缺血再灌注后0、4、8、12、24h期间内肝脏HSP70的表达、NOS活力及血清乳酸脱氢酶(lactate dehydrogenase,LDH)的活性与肝脏组织学改变。结果热应激预处理组HSP70的表达水平均比非预处理组同一时间点高,而NOS活力及血清LDH的活性较非预处理组低。与非预处理组比较,经热应激预处理肝组织损伤较轻。结论热应激预处理诱导产生的热休克蛋白70保护肝脏缺血再灌注损伤的作用途径之一可能是通过抑制NO的产生,从而降低大量自由基对肝脏的损害。     

The catalytic RNA of RNase P from Escherichia coli cleaves Drosophila 2S ribosomal RNA in vitro: a new type of naturally occurring substrate for the ribozyme

The production of superoxide and nitric oxide induced in U87 glioma treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was examined by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy using a newly designed flow-type quartz cuvette without detaching cells from the culture plate. ESR spectra of 2,2,6, 6-tetramethyl-4-hydroxy-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPOL) with U87 cells on a quartz culture plate were measured at 15 min intervals. The signal intensity of TEMPOL decreased in the presence of U87 cells at the pseudo-first order rate. The signal decay was accelerated in the U87 cells treated with LPS/IFN-gamma for 24 h, and was suppressed in the presence of superoxide dismutase and catalase. By the spin-trapping method, nitric oxide from U87 cells pretreated with LPS/IFN-gamma for 24 h was measured by the ESR, but only a weak signal of nitric oxide adducts was detected. Further, the nitrite and nitrate levels in the medium did not increase for 24 h. By the ESR measurement of cells on culture plates without detachment stress, it was found that the production of superoxide was induced by LPS/IFN-gamma, but that of nitric oxide was not, in U87 glioma cells.     

局部热应激预处理对肝脏缺血/再灌注损伤的防护作用的机制

目的:探讨热应激预处理诱导产生的热休克蛋白70对肝脏缺血/再灌注损伤的保护作用的机制.方法:应用pringle,s法制备肝脏缺血/再灌注损伤模型及热应激预处理模型.将实验大鼠随机分为热应激预处理(HP I/R)组与非预处理(I/R)组,对比观察两组动物肝脏缺血/再灌注后0、4、8、12、24 h时肝脏HSP70的表达、SOD活力和MDA的产生量及大鼠血清门冬氨酸转氨酶(aspartate transaminase,AST),丙氨酸转氨酶(alanine transaminase,ALT)的活性与肝脏病理组织学改变.结果:热应激预处理组各时间点肝脏HSP70的表达及SOD的活力均比非预处理组同一时间点高,而血清AST、ALT酶活性及MDA的产生量较非预处理组低,病理损伤也比非预处理组减轻.结论:热应激预处理诱导产生的热休克蛋白70可能通过促进SOD的产生,从而降低氧自由基对肝脏的损害,起到保护肝脏缺血/再灌注损伤的作用.     

Noninvasive study of radiation-induced oxidative damage using in vivo electron spin resonance

Nitroxyl radicals injected into a whole body indicate the disappearance of signal intensity of in vivo electron spin resonance (ESR). The signal decay rates of nitroxyl have reported to be influenced by various types of oxidative stress. We examined the effect of X-irradiation on the signal decay rate of nitroxyl in the upper abdomen of mice using in vivo ESR. The signal decay rates increased 1 h after 15 Gy irradiation, and the enhancement was suppressed by preadministration of cysteamine, a radioprotector. These results suggest that the signal decay of nitroxyl in whole mice is enhanced by radiation-induced oxidative damage. The in vivo ESR system probing the signal decay of nitroxyl could provide a noninvasive technique for the study of oxidative stress caused by radiation in a living body.     

Noninvasive evaluation of in vivo free radical reactions catalyzed by iron using in vivo ESR spectroscopy.

The noninvasive, real time technique of in vivo electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy was used to evaluate free radical reactions catalyzed by iron in living mice. The spectra and signal decay of a nitroxyl probe, carbamoyl-PROXYL, were observed in the upper abdomen of mice. The signal decay was significantly enhanced in mice subcutaneously loaded with ferric citrate (0.2 micromol/g body wt) and the enhancement was suppressed by pre-treatment with either desferrioxamine (DF) or the chain breaking antioxidant Trolox, but only slightly suppressed by the hydroxyl radical scavenger DMSO. To determine the catalytic form of iron, DF was administered at different times with respect to iron loading: before, simultaneously, and after 20 and 50 min. The effect of DF on signal decay, liver iron content, iron excretion, and lipid peroxidation (TBARs) depended on the time of the treatment. There was a good correlation between the signal decay, iron content, and lipid peroxidation, indicating that "chelatable iron" contributed to the enhanced signal decay. The nitroxyl probe also exhibited in vivo antioxidant activity, implying that the process responsible for the signal decay of the nitroxyl probe is involved in free radical oxidative stress reactions catalyzed by iron.     

Heat Shock RNA Levels in Brain and Other Tissues After Hyperthermia and Transient Ischemia

A number of studies have demonstrated increased synthesis of heat shock proteins in brain following hyperthermia or transient ischemia. In the present experiments we have characterized the time course of heat shock RNA induction in gerbil brain after ischemia, and in several mouse tissues after hyperthermia, using probes for RNAs of the 70-kilodalton heat shock protein (hsp70) family, as well as ubiquitin. A synthetic oligonucleotide selective for inducible hsp70 sequences proved to be the most sensitive indicator of the stress response whereas a related rat cDNA detected both induced RNAs and constitutively expressed sequences that were not strongly inducible in brain. Considerable polymorphism of ubiquitin sequences was evident in the outbred mouse and gerbil strains used in these studies when probed with a chicken ubiquitin cDNA. Brief hyperthermic exposure resulted in striking induction of hsp70 and several-fold increases in ubiquitin RNAs in mouse liver and kidney peaking 3 h after return to room temperature. The oligonucleotide selective for hsp70 showed equivalent induction in brain that was more rapid and transient than observed in liver, whereas minimal induction was seen with the ubiquitin and hsp70-related cDNA probes. Transient ischemia resulted in 5- to 10-fold increases in hsp70 sequences in gerbil brain which peaked at 6 h recirculation and remained above control levels at 24 h, whereas a modest 70% increase in ubiquitin sequences was noted at 6 h. These results demonstrate significant temporal and quantitative differences in heat shock RNA expression between brain and other tissues following hyperthermia in vivo, and indicate that hsp70 provides a more sensitive index of the stress response in brain than does ubiquitin after both hyperthermia and ischemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Improvement of preservation with cardioplegia induced by heat stress is mediated by calcitonin gene-related peptide

Previous studies have shown improvement of preservation with cardioplegia by calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-induced preconditioning. Therefore we examined the hypothesis that endogenous CGRP may be involved in the protection of heat stress against myocardial damages after prolonged cardioplegic arrest in isolated rat heart. Reperfusion after 4 h of hypothermic ischemia caused a decline of cardiac function and an increase of creatine kinase (CK) release. Heat stress induced by pretreatment with whole body hyperthermia (rectal 42 degrees C) for 15 min produced a significant increase in the plasma content of CGRP, an improvement of cardiac function and a decrease in the release of CK. However, after pretreatment with capsaicin (50 mg/kg, s.c.) to deplete CGRP in cardiac sensory nerves, the plasma concentration of CGRP was no longer increased and the cardioprotection afforded by heat stress was abolished. These findings suggest that improvement of preservation with cardioplegia by heat stress may be mediated by endogenous CGRP in the rat.