Effect of graduated embolization of the coronary vessels using microspheres on the pumping function and contractility of the left ventricle in rats

Left ventricle (LV) function and systemic hemodynamic changes after coronary artery embolization by 15 microns radioactive microspheres were studied in anesthetized rats. Selective coronary embolization was produced by microsphere injection during ascending aorta occlusion in closed chest animal by using "L"-shaped wire. Maximal pressure (Pmax) developed was evaluated during ascending aorta occlusion. Coronary embolization evoked dose-dependent reduction in Pmax and dP/dtmax and then decrease in basal LV systolic pressure. dP/dt/P, with parallel increase in end diastolic LV pressure. Changes of cardiac output were bidirectional: after administration of relatively small amount of microspheres cardiac output increased. This method can be used for producing quantitative myocardial ischemia and we suggest that it may be a suitable model of the chronic heart failure.     

Changes in the activity of the brain renin-angiotensin system and in the functional state of the pituitary-adrenal system of rats under the influence of captopril]

While studying the effect of peroral captopril injections on the activity of renin-angiotensin system (RAS), the activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and angiotensin II content from anterior and mediobasal hypothalamus, medulla and adenohypophysis of intact rats has been established to decrease. Captopril administration decreases ACE activity which increases after hydrocortisone injection in rat medulla and striatum. Captopril results in no potentiation of hormonal effect in hypothalamus and in adenohypophysis where ACE activity decreases following hydrocortisone injection. A decrease in the RAS activity of brain structures and adenohypophysis induced by captopril administration to rats is accompanied by the inhibition of the activity in the pituitary-adrenal system. A decrease in ACTH level and in 11-hydroxycorticosteroids of the rat blood plasma has been determined after single captopril injection in the dosage of 10 and 50 mg/kg of body weight. Duration of the effect depends on the captopril dosage.     

Blood flow measurements by the reference sample method with microsphere injection in to the aorta: an accurate and easy approach.

The validity of hemodynamic measurements by the reference sample method with microspheres injection into the aorta, via a carotid artery catheter, was evaluated in rats and compared with the results obtained after left ventricle injection. In the aorta injection group, a good mix of microspheres was observed in 83% of the animals. Moreover, a symmetrical distribution of microspheres was observed in 10 out of 12 rats (83%). An excellent correlation between right and left kidney-testes blood flows was observed (r = 0.93 and 0.96, respectively; P less than 0.01). Mean arterial pressure was not modified during microspheres injection into the aorta. Cardiac output (104 +/- 26 vs 101 +/- 23 ml/min, NS) and portal blood flow (14.2 +/- 3.3 vs 13.5 +/- 2.2 ml/min, NS) were similar after aorta and left ventricle injections series, respectively. Our results indicate that the injection of microspheres into the aorta is an adequate and easy approach to systemic and splanchnic hemodynamic measurements. This approach could be a good alternative to left ventricle injection of microspheres in experimental studies in rats.     

Release and metabolism of brain noradrenaline during experimental ischemia. Effect of glycerol treatment

The release and catabolism of brain NA were studied after labelling of endogenous NA stores with 3H NA in rats submitted to cerebral ischemia by injecting calibrated microspheres into the internal carotid artery. Twenty four hours after embolization, both NA release and catabolism were found to be reduced. They were restored after treatment with hyperosmolar solution of glycerol.     

N-Acetylaspartate, a marker of both cellular dysfunction and neuronal loss: its relevance to studies of acute brain injury

To evaluate the contribution of cellular dysfunction and neuronal loss to brain N-acetylaspartate (NAA) depletion, NAA was measured in brain tissue by HPLC and UV detection in rats subjected to cerebral injury, associated or not with cell death. When lesion was induced by intracarotid injection of microspheres, the fall in NAA was related to the degree of embolization and to the severity of brain oedema. When striatal lesion was induced by local injection of malonate, the larger the lesion volume, the higher the NAA depletion. However, reduction of brain oedema and striatal lesion by treatment with the lipophilic iron chelator dipyridyl (20 mg/kg, 1 h before and every 8 h after embolization) and the inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor aminoguanidine (100 mg/kg given 1 h before malonate and then every 9 h), respectively, failed to ameliorate the fall in NAA. Moreover, after systemic administration of 3-nitropropionic acid, a marked reversible fall in NAA striatal content was observed despite the lack of tissue necrosis. Overall results show that cellular dysfunction can cause higher reductions in NAA level than neuronal loss, thus making of NAA quantification a potential tool for visualizing the penumbra area in stroke patients.     

Oxytocin release after bleeding in rat: the role of sympathetic and renin-angiotensin system.

The aim of this experiment was to compare the role of renin-angiotensin and sympathetic nervous system in post-haemorrhagic mechanism of oxytocin release. Oxytocin content in venous dialysates was determined by radioimmunoassay. In control rats the release of oxytocin into dialysates did not change during whole experiment. The injection of captopril induced 2-fold higher oxytocin release, but caused no change in oxytocin release after bleeding. Superior cervical ganglionectomy (SCGx) 20 days before, caused 5-fold higher increase in oxytocin release than in control group. Injection of captopril in rats after SCGx, did not decrease the high level of oxytocin in dialysate. However, bleeding increased oxytocin release and 1 hour after bleeding the highest - 14-fold increase, took place. In the contrary to 14-fold increase in oxytocin release in animals with superior cervical ganglia (SCG), bleeding after SCGx caused only 2-fold higher oxytocin release. When SCGx, bleeding and injection of captopril were done simultaneously, oxytocin release remained on the control concentration level. We assumed that blockade of renin angiotensin system and sympathetic dennervation prevent the increase in oxytocin release after bleeding. On basis of our present experiments, it can be assumed that, in posthaemorrhagic oxytocin release into the blood, sympathetic innervation derived from SCGx, as well as, renin-angiotensin system are involved.     

血管紧张素Ⅱ在紧张应激引起大鼠血压升高中的作用

实验在雄性Sprague Dawley大鼠上进行。实验动物被随机分为对照组、应激组和应激 腹腔注射卡托普利 (captopril)组。应激组大鼠每天给予电击足底结合噪声的应激刺激 ,每日 2次 ,每次 2h ,连续 15d ;应激 ipcaptopril组大鼠在给予应激刺激期间 ,经腹腔内注射captopril 5 0mg/kg d。实验结果观察到 ,15d后 ,三组大鼠平均尾动脉收缩压分别为 :对照组 16 32± 0 5 5kPa (n =7) ,应激组 19 75± 1 0kPa (n =8) ,应激 ipcaptopril组17 6 9± 1 0 7kPa (n =8)。应激 ipcaptopril组大鼠的尾动脉收缩压较对照组动物有显著升高 (P <0 0 5 ) ,但又显著低于应激组大鼠 (P <0 0 5 ) ;同时 ,三组大鼠下丘脑组织中AVP mRNA水平分别为 :对照组 7332 6 6± 5 2 2 6 5 (n =6 ) ;应激组 12 990 33± 15 33 5 8(n =6 ) ,应激 ipcaptopril组 10 6 15 5± 1410 49(n =6 )。应激 ipcaptopril组大鼠下丘脑组织中AVP mRNA水平较对照组有显著升高 (P <0 0 0 1) ,但又显著低于单纯应激组大鼠 (P <0 0 5 )。统计结果显示 :各组大鼠下丘脑组织中AVP mRNA水平与血压之间存在正相关关系 (P <0 0 0 1)。对照组大鼠在侧脑室注射 (icv)选择性血管升压素 (AVP)V1受体拮抗剂d(CH2 ) 5Tyr(Me)AVP 0 3μg后 ,其平均动脉压 (     

Circulating angiotensin II mediates sodium appetite in adrenalectomized rats

We investigated the role of circulating ANG II in sodium appetite after adrenalectomy. Adrenalectomized rats deprived of their main access to sodium (0.3 M NaCl) for 9 h drank 14.1 +/- 1.5 ml of the concentrated saline solution in 2 h of access. Intravenous infusion of captopril (2.5 mg/h) during the last 5 h of sodium restriction reduced sodium intake by 77 +/- 12% (n = 5) without affecting the degree of sodium depletion and hypovolemia incurred during deprivation. Functional evidence indicates that this dose of captopril blocked production of ANG II in the peripheral circulation, but not in the brain; that is, injection of ANG I into the lateral brain ventricle stimulated intake of both water and 0.3 M NaCl. Intravenous infusion of ANG II (starting 10-15 min before 0.3 M NaCl became available) in adrenalectomized, captopril-treated rats restored both sodium intake and blood pressure to values seen in rats not treated with captopril. Longer (20 h) infusions of captopril in 22-h sodium-restricted rats also blocked sodium appetite, but reduced or prevented sodium depletion. Intravenous infusion of ANG II after these long captopril infusions stimulated sodium intake, but intake was less than in controls not treated with captopril. These results indicate that most or all of the sodium appetite of adrenalectomized rats is mediated by circulating ANG II.     

Circulating and brain BDNF levels in stroke rats. Relevance to clinical studies

Background

Whereas brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels are measured in the brain in animal models of stroke, neurotrophin levels in stroke patients are measured in plasma or serum samples. The present study was designed to investigate the meaning of circulating BDNF levels in stroke patients.

Methods and Results

Unilateral ischemic stroke was induced in rats by the injection of various numbers of microspheres into the carotid circulation in order to mimic the different degrees of stroke severity observed in stroke patients. Blood was serially collected from the jugular vein before and after (4 h, 24 h and 8 d) embolization and the whole brains were collected at 4, 24 h and 8 d post-embolization. Rats were then selected from their degree of embolization, so that the distribution of stroke severity in the rats at the different time points was large but similar. Using ELISA tests, BDNF levels were measured in plasma, serum and brain of selected rats. Whereas plasma and serum BDNF levels were not changed by stroke, stroke induced an increase in brain BDNF levels at 4 h and 24 h post-embolization, which was not correlated with stroke severity. Individual plasma BDNF levels did not correlate with brain levels at any time point after stroke but a positive correlation (r = 0.67) was observed between individual plasma BDNF levels and stroke severity at 4 h post-embolization.

Conclusion

Circulating BDNF levels do not mirror brain BDNF levels after stroke, and severe stroke is associated with high plasma BDNF in the very acute stage.     

Problems related to infarct size measurements in the rat heart.

The feasibility of measuring the extent of hypoperfused myocardium and the infarct size was examined in rat hearts after occlusion of the left coronary artery. The extent of hypoperfused myocardium was examined by autoradiography and after perfusion with fluorescent microspheres. Both methods appeared unreliable in this model. Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining, however, provided a distinct demarcation line between viable myocardium, which was stained red, and the necrotic myocardium, consistent with the ultrastructural border between normal and severely damaged myocytes 5 h after coronary occlusion. TTC staining gives the best demarcation of ischemic tissues. In verapamil-treated rats, there was an apparent reduction in infarct size as compared with untreated rats; 20% reduction in infarct size 5 h after coronary occlusion and 12% reduction after 24 h. There was, however, a large postoperative mortality among the verapamil-treated rats. These problems, and the nonuniform infarct size in rats, may in part explain why infarct size limitation by verapamil has been reported from rat experiments, but not from clinical trials.     

扶正化瘀胶囊对心肌梗死大鼠心肌纤维化的影响

目的：急性心肌梗死是危害人类健康的重大疾病之一,心肌梗死后心肌纤维化是造成心脏结构破坏、心功能下降、心律失常发生、心衰甚至猝死的微观病理机制。防治心肌纤维化是当前医学研究的重点和热点。本研究主要探讨扶正化瘀胶囊对心肌梗死大鼠心肌纤维化的干预作用。方法：大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组、扶正化瘀胶囊组和卡托普利组,采用结扎冠状动脉前降支的方法建立心肌梗死模型,假手术组只穿线,不结扎。于造模成功后第10天开始给予相应药物治疗2个月。治疗结束后,检测左心室梗死范围和心肌胶原含量。结果：与假手术组比较,模型组、扶正化瘀胶囊组和卡托普利组的非梗死区面积显著减小（P〈0.01）。与模型组比较,扶正化瘀胶囊组和卡托普利组的梗死区面积和梗死百分比显著减小（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）。在心肌胶原表达上,与假手术组比较,模型组和扶正化瘀胶囊组胶原含量显著增加（P〈0.01）。与模型组比较,卡托普利组和扶正化瘀胶囊组胶原含量显著降低（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）。结论：扶正化瘀胶囊能够改善心肌缺血,缩小心肌梗死范围,抑制心肌胶原表达,除能用于肝纤维化的治疗外,还能用于防治心肌梗死后的心肌纤维化。     

长期尾部悬吊大鼠冠脉血流量的变化

采用放射性生物微球技术观察了经受４０和１２０ｄ尾部悬吊模拟失重大鼠冠脉血流量及冠脉阻力的变化。４０及１２０ｄ悬吊大鼠冠脉血流量分别较其相应对照组减少２５％（Ｐ＜０．０１）和２２％（Ｐ＜０．０５）;而４０ｄ组和１２０ｄ组的冠脉阻力与其相应配对对照组相比分别升高３７％（Ｐ＜０．０５）和３１％（Ｐ＜０．０５）。此外,悬吊４０ｄ与悬吊１２０ｄ组大鼠左心室重量分别较其配对的对照组大鼠要减轻９％（Ｐ＜０．０５）及５％（Ｐ＜０．０１）。结果表明,长期模拟失重大鼠心脏可能处于低动力状态,从而使心肌的代谢活动减弱并可能发生萎缩。     

心力衰竭大鼠心肌SERCA2a和miR-25-3p/5p表达的改变及泻肺利水方药的干预作用

目的：观察心力衰竭大鼠肌浆网钙ATP酶（SERCA2a） mRNA和miR-25-3p/5p表达水平的变化及中药泻肺利水方药的干预作用。方法：SD大鼠随机分为对照组、模型组、中药组、卡托普利组和地高辛组（n=10）,阿霉素腹腔注射（总剂量15 ml/kg,2周内分6次注射）建立心力衰竭大鼠模型,5周后分别以蒸馏水（10 ml/（kg·d））、泻肺利水中药（22 g/（kg·d））、卡托普利（19 mg/（kg·d））和地高辛（32μg/（kg·d））连续灌胃35 d,观察大鼠心肌SERCA2amRNA、miR-25-3p/5p的表达水平和SERCA2a活性、血浆脑钠肽水平、心输出量和射血分数。结果：模型组大鼠心输出量和射血分数显著降低,心肌SERCA2a mRNA表达水平和活性降低,miR-25-3p和miR-25-5p的表达水平、血浆脑钠肽水平显著升高;泻肺利水中药能提高心肌SERCA2a mRNA表达水平和活性,降低miR-25-3p和miR-25-5p的表达水平,降低血浆脑钠肽水平,提高心输出量和射血分数;卡托普利能提高心肌SERCA2a mRNA表达水平,降低miR-25-3p和miR-25-5p的表达水平,降低血浆脑钠肽水平,提高心输出量;地高辛能提高心肌SERCA2a mRNA表达水平,降低血清脑钠肽水平,提高心输出量。结论：心力衰竭大鼠心肌SERCA2a mRNA的表达下调,miR-25-3p和miR-25-5p的表达上调;泻肺利水方药可以上调SERCA2a mRNA的表达,下调心肌miR-25-3p和miR-25-5p的表达,改善心功能。     

Acute embolization of the uteroplacental circulation: uterine blood flow and placental CO diffusing capacity

In an effort to determine to what extent the fetal sequalae following repeated embolization result from decreased area of placental exchange or from decreased uterine blood flow, we injected microspheres into the uterine circulation of the pregnant ewe. We measured total UBF continuously and sampled fetal blood gases in 6 chronically instrumented ewes following repeated injections of 1 to 2 million 25 mu microspheres into the common internal iliac artery at 30 min intervals. Embolization resulted in an immediate 25 to 30% drop in uterine flow, with partial recovery to about 85% of its control value within 30 min after injection. A linear relation existed between uterine blood flow and fetal O2 tension. A slightly accelerated decrease in O2 content with a more rapid increase in CO2 tension and [H+] was seen when uterine flow decreased below 150 ml X min-1 X kg fetal wt-1. Following repeated injections fetal descending aortic O2 tension and content decreased 34 and 82% respectively, while PCO2 and [H+] increased 28 and 84% respectively. Placental diffusing capacity for CO increased 117% after repeated embolization. Most of this increase could be accounted for by the fetal hypoxia and acidosis, although some of it may have resulted from distension or recruitment of vessels in the placental exchange area, or a more uniform distribution of placental blood flows. These studies suggest that the acute changes in fetal blood gas values following embolization result from a reduction in blood flow rather than from a reduced placental exchange area.     

Quantitative histochemistry of the angiotensinase A (APA) in the renal glomeruli of rats after stimulation of the renin-angiotensin system

Quantitative histochemical measurements of aminopeptidase A (APA, angiotensinase A) were done kinetically in the kidney glomeruli of rats after short-term experiments (treatment with furosemide as well as captopril for 2, 4, and 6 h). The APA activities increased after treatment with furosemide or captopril. Highest activities were determined after 4 h using furosemide and 6 h using captopril. It is concluded that glomerular APA activities correspond to the renin/angiotensin plasma levels and that the fast changes of APA activities are well demonstrable by kinetic densitometric measurements in situ.     

Involvement of angiotensin-(1-7) in the hypothalamic hypotensive effect of captopril in sinoaortic denervated rats

The role of anterior hypothalamic angiotensin-(1-7) (Ang-(1-7)) on blood pressure regulation was studied in sinoaortic denervated (SAD) rats. Since angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors increase endogenous levels of Ang-(1-7), we addressed the involvement of Ang-(1-7) in the hypotensive effect induced by captopril in SAD rats. Wistar rats 7 days after SAD or sham operation (SO) were anaesthetized and the carotid artery was cannulated for monitoring mean arterial pressure (MAP). A needle was inserted into the anterior hypothalamus for drug administration. Intrahypothalamic administration of Ang-(1-7) (5 pmol) was without effect in SO rats but reduced MAP in SAD rats by 15.5+/-3.2 mm Hg and this effect was blocked by 250 pmol [D-Ala(7)]-Ang-(1-7), a Mas receptor antagonist. Angiotensin II (Ang II) induced an increase in MAP in both groups being the effect greater in SAD rats (DeltaMAP=15.8+/-1.4 mm Hg) than in SO rats (DeltaMAP=9.6+/-1.0 mm Hg). Ang-(1-7) partially abolished the pressor response caused by Ang II in SAD rats. Whilst the captopril intrahypothalamic injection did not affect MAP in SO animals, it significantly reduced MAP in SAD rats (DeltaMAP=-13.3+/-1.9 mm Hg). Either [D-Ala(7)]-Ang-(1-7) or an anti-Ang-(1-7) polyclonal antibody partially blocked the MAP reduction caused by captopril. In conclusion, whilst Ang-(1-7) does not contribute to hypothalamic blood pressure regulation in SO normotensive animals, in SAD rats the heptapeptide induces a reduction of blood pressure mediated by Mas receptor activation. Although Ang-(1-7) is not formed in enough amount in the AHA of SAD animals to exert cardiovascular effects in normal conditions, our results suggest that enhancement of hypothalamic Ang-(1-7) levels by administration of captopril is partially involved in the hypotensive effect of the ACE inhibitor.     

Estimation of regional circulation in rats: results obtained by using 15 and 50 micron diameter microspheres and rubidium]

Radioactive microspheres, 15 or 50 micron in diameter, were used to estimate the distrubtion of cardiac output and the degree of shunting of microspheres through the systemic and pulmonary circulations in anaesthetized rats. Extraction of 15 micron spheres by the pulmonary capillaries was nearly 100% and the amounts of microspheres per gram of lung tissue were not significantly different in the various lobes of lung. After injection into the left ventricle, the proportion of microspheres shunted to the lungs was almost identical using 15 or 50 micron spheres. Similar results were observed after injection into the internal of external carotid artery. The distribution of cardiac output showed a significant difference between 15 and 50 micron spheres, the proportion of 50 micron spheres found in the stomach being higher, which suggests the existence in this organ of arteriovenous shunts larger than 15 micron. The rubidium method yielded higher fractions of cardiac output in the liver (hepatic artery), lung and skin whereas the microspheres distribution to the heart, spleen and digestive tract exceeded that of rubidium. The origins of these differences are discussed.     

Hemodynamic effects of 15-microm-diameter microspheres on the rat pulmonary circulation.

The microsphere method has been used extensively to measure regional blood flow in large laboratory animals. A fundamental premise of the method is that microspheres do not alter regional flow or vascular tone. Whereas this assumption is accepted in large animals, it may not be valid in the pulmonary circulation of smaller animals. Three studies were performed to determine the hemodynamic effects of microspheres on the rat pulmonary circulation. Increasing numbers of 15-microm-diameter microspheres were injected into a fully dilated, isolated-lung preparation. Vascular resistance increased 0.8% for every 100,000 microspheres injected. Microspheres were also injected into an isolated-lung preparation in which vascular tone was increased with hypoxia. Microspheres did not induce vasodilatation, as reported in other vascular beds. Fluorescent microspheres were injected via tail veins into awake rats, and the spatial locations of the microspheres were determined. Regional distributions remained highly correlated when microspheres of one color were injected after microspheres of another color. This indicates that the initial injection did not alter regional perfusion. We conclude that, when used in appropriate numbers, 15-microm-diameter microspheres do not alter regional flow or vascular tone in the rat pulmonary circulation.     

Localization of retinal dehydrogenase type 1 in the stomach and intestine

Rats were injected with liposomes containing iodixanol (CTP10 Injection; 100 mg iodine per kg body weight) followed by a second injection of 125I-tyramine-cellobiose-albumin microspheres. The amounts of phagocytosed and degraded labelled albumin in liver were measured. A reduced uptake and degradation of albumin microspheres was observed when the labelled microspheres were injected 2 h or 24 h after the liposomes compared with that obtained in control animals receiving saline. No effect on the uptake and degradation of labelled microspheres was observed when the time lag between the injection of liposomes and labelled microspheres was 1 week. The data show that the uptake and degradation of 125I-tyramine-cellobiose-albumin microspheres can be used as indicators of Kupffer cell phagocytotic function following drug uptake by these cells.     

Effect of hog pancreatic kallikrein on blood pressure in rats

In all mammals investigated so far, an amount of 0.1 - 1 biological unit (KU) of hog pancreatic kallikrein per kg body weight injected intravenously caused a fast reduction in blood pressure with one exception, the rat. Even 1000 times higher doses of hog pancreatic kallikrein did not reduce the blood pressure in this animal. In spite of many experiments performed with rats using hog pancreatic kallikrein to influence various metabolic pathways, there has been no proof, to date, that this enzyme also causes kallikrein-specific effects via kinin liberation in rats. We found only a slow and weak reduction of rat blood pressure after injection of 100 KU hog pancreatic kallikrein per rat, when the endogenous kininases had been previously inactivated by the kininase II inhibitor captopril. However, a fast reduction in blood pressure, similar to the response observed after kinin injection, could be recorded if 90 microliter rat blood, previously incubated for a few minutes with a least 20 k.u. hog pancreatic kallikrein in the presence of captopril, was reinjected. Hence, kinin liberation from rat kininogens by hog pancreatic kallikrein does occur, but proceeds so slowly that the fast kinin degradation by kininases can prevent the typical blood pressure effect of kinin in vivo.