银杏叶提取物对野百合碱诱导的大鼠右心室心肌肥厚的干预作用及其机制*

目的: 探讨银杏叶提取物对大鼠右心室心肌肥厚的干预作用及其机制。方法: 72 只SD 大鼠随机分为3 组,每组24只: 对照组(CON组)、野百合碱诱导右心室心肌肥厚组(MCT组)、银杏叶提取物干预组(EGB组)。MCT组与EGB组首日均以2%MCT按60 mg/kg 剂量腹腔注射,注射后第2日开始,MCT组每日予2 ml 0.9% NaCl灌胃,EGB组以60 mg/kg银杏叶提取物灌胃,对照组SD大鼠首日一次性腹腔注射2 ml 0.9%NaCl注射液。3周后检测各组大鼠心脏血流动力学变化、计算心脏重量指数、HE染色观察心肌病理形态学变化、RT-PCR法检测TRPC6 mRNA表达和Western blot法检测蛋白的表达水平。结果: 与对照组比较,MCT组反映右心室肥厚程度的指标如RVSP、RV±dp/dt_max及RVMI显著增加(P＜0.01),而EGB早期干预组虽然与MCT组的各项指标有相同趋势的变化,但是EGB组各项指标变化的幅度均显著降低(P＜0.01),且EGB组的心肌肥厚指数均显著低于MCT组(P＜ 0.01);HE染色观察心肌形态学变化结果:MCT组呈典型心肌肥厚表现;EGB组右心室心肌细胞较MCT组有显著改善;MCT组及EGB组SD大鼠右心室TRPC6 mRNA及蛋白相对表达水平升高(P＜0.05),而EGB组较MCT组显著降低(P＜0.05)。结论: 银杏叶提取物可能通过降低TRPC6的表达阻碍心肌细胞中CaN／NFAT信号路径而发挥对心肌肥厚的早期保护作用。     

慢性低氧对大鼠左右心室的功能及TRPC亚家族表达的影响

目的：探讨慢性低氧3周对大鼠左右心室的影响以及规范性瞬时感受器电位亚家族（TRPC）在慢性低氧诱导的右心室心肌肥厚中的表达。方法：将SD雄性大鼠48只随机分为对照组（CON组）和慢性低氧肺动脉高压模型组（CH组）（n=24）,CH组将大鼠置于连续的慢性低氧（10％±0．2％）环境饲养三周以诱导大鼠发生心肌肥厚。通过左、右心室插管法测定右心室内压（RVSP）、左心室内压（LVSP）、心率（HR）、平均体循环动脉压（mSAP）、左、右心室内压力最大上升速率（＋dp／dtmax）、最大下降速率（-dp／dkmax）、右心肥大指数（RVMI）、左心肥大指数（LVMI）;HE染色观察左、右心室心肌组织切片;通过SYBR Green荧光定量PCR法检测CON组、CH组大鼠的肥厚侧心室心肌组织编码TRPC 1／3／4／5／6／7的rnRNA表达;结合real-time RT-PCR结果对mRNA表达有显著变化的TRPC亚型通过免疫印迹法检测相应蛋白的表达。结果：与CON组相比：CH组的RVSP、RVMI、右心室±dp／dtmax显著增高（P〈0．01）,LVSP、左心室±dp／dmax无显著变化,LVMI显著降低（P〈0．01）;CH组右心室心肌细胞显著增粗（P〈0．01）,细胞内肌原纤维数量增多,心肌纤维排列紊乱,细胞核深染,形状不整;左心室心肌纤维无明显改变;CH组编码TRPCI的mRNA和蛋白显著增高（P〈0．05）,而编码其余TRPC亚型的mRNA无显著变化。结论：慢性低氧3周可特异性诱导sD大鼠产生右心室心肌肥厚,上调了编码右心室心肌细胞TRPCI通道蛋白的mRNA和蛋白的表达,TRPCI可能参与了心肌肥厚的发生发展。     

MLP参与心肌肥大发生过程与Calcineurin/NFAT信号通路有关

心肌肥大是心肌细胞面对多种病理刺激时的共同反应,以心肌细胞体积增大和胚胎期基因的重新表达为标志.心肌发育调控基因肌肉LIM蛋白(muscle LIM protein,MLP)的表达异常与心肌肥大有关.为研究MLP参与心肌肥大发生的分子机制,采用去氧肾上腺素（phenylephrine, PE）刺激大鼠原代培养心肌细胞,建立心肌细胞肥大模型,采用RNAi技术敲减MLP的表达,分析MLP与肥大信号通路钙调神经磷酸酶（calcineurin）/活化T细胞核因子（nuclear factor of activated T-cells, NFAT）的关系.结果显示, 原代培养的心肌细胞经一定浓度的PE刺激后细胞表面积增加,肥大标志蛋白ANP、BNP表达增高,并伴有MLP表达上调. RNAi方法敲减MLP的表达则明显抑制PE诱导的心肌细胞表面积增加和BNP表达增高,并且直接 影响NFAT的转录激活活性,提示MLP与心肌肥大的发生密切相关,并且可能是通过calcineurin/NFAT信号通路而参与心肌肥大的发生.     

肿瘤坏死因子-α诱导心肌肥大中CaN信号通路的作用

目的:研究钙调神经磷酸酶(CaN)信号通路在肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)诱导心肌细胞肥大中的作用。方法:Lowry法测心肌细胞蛋白含量;计算机图象分析系统测心肌细胞体积;[3H]-亮氨酸掺入法测心肌细胞蛋白合成;Till阳离子测定系统观察胞内[Ca2+]i瞬变;Western blot法测定CaN的表达。结果:①CaN特异性抑制剂CsA(0.2μmol/L)明显抑制TNF-α(100μg/L)诱导的心肌细胞蛋白含量、蛋白合成和细胞体积增大,但对正常心肌细胞生长无影响。②CaN特异性抑制剂CsA(0.2μmol/L)明显降低TNF-α诱导的心肌细胞内钙离子浓度([Ca2+]i)瞬变幅度增高。③TNF-α明显增强心肌细胞内CaN的表达。结论:TNF-α可能通过引起心肌细胞[Ca2+]i升高,促进CaN表达诱导心肌细胞肥大。     

H2S对大鼠心肌肥大与miRNA-133a和Ca2+/CaN/NFATc4信号通路的影响

目的：研究硫化氢（H₂S）对心肌细胞肥大的负性调控作用与miRNA-133a介导Ca²⁺/CaN/NFATc4信号通路的关系。方法：异丙肾上腺素（ISO）诱导体外培养的大鼠心肌细胞肥大模型;Leica图像分析软件测量心肌细胞表面积;qRT-PCR检测脑钠尿肽（BNP）、β-肌球蛋白重链（β-MHC）、H₂S合酶（CSE）、miRNA-133a和钙调神经磷酸酶（CaN） mRNA表达;Western blot检测CaN、活化T细胞核因子c4（NFATc4）蛋白表达;Elisa方法检测心肌细胞H₂S含量;激光共聚焦显微镜检测心肌细胞钙离子浓度;细胞免疫荧光检测NFATc4核转位变化。结果：①心肌细胞肥大时,CSE/H₂S水平、miRNA-133a mRNA表达均显著下降。应用NaHS预处理,能上调心肌细胞CSE/H₂S水平,增加H₂S含量和miRNA-133a mRNA表达,并明显抑制心肌细胞肥大。②心肌细胞肥大时,细胞内钙离子浓度明显增加,CaN表达和NFATc4胞核蛋白表达增加,NFATc4核转位明显增强;应用NaHS预处理能明显抑制ISO诱导的上述效应。③应用antagomir-133a能逆转H₂S抑制心肌细胞肥大的作用,使心肌细胞内钙离子浓度、CaN表达和NFATc4胞核蛋白表达增加,NFATc4核转位增强。结论：H₂S通过负性调控作用抑制心肌细胞肥大,该作用可能与H₂S上调miRNA-133a的表达,抑制其下游的Ca²⁺/CaN/NFATc4信号通路的激活有关。     

法舒地尔对异丙肾上腺素诱导大鼠心肌肥厚的干预作用及其机制

目的：研究法舒地尔对异丙肾上腺素诱导大鼠心肌肥厚的影响及其机制。方法：除正常对照组外,其它SD大鼠均皮下注射异丙肾上腺素（Iso,5 mg/kg）建立心肌肥厚模型。大鼠随机分为4组：正常对照组、Iso模型组、法舒地尔低剂量组（Fas,5 mg/kg,i.p）和法舒地尔高剂量组（Fas,20 mg/kg,i.p）,连续给药8周。给药结束后,血流动力学检测大鼠心率（HR）、左心室收缩压（LVSP）、左心室末舒张压（LVEDP）和左室压力变化最大速率（±dp/dt_max）;分别测定大鼠体重（BW）,心脏重量（HW）,并计算HW/BW;大鼠心肌HE、Masson染色观察组织病理学改变;免疫组化法观察大鼠心肌组织ERK1、ERK2蛋白表达,RT-PCR观察ERK1、ERK2 mRNA的表达。结果：Iso模型组HR和LVEDP明显升高,LVSP和±dp/dt_max明显下降;HW/BW增大;心肌细胞体积变大,排列紊乱,胶原纤维增生;左心室组织ERK1、ERK2蛋白与mRNA表达上调。法舒地尔不同剂量干预后,心脏收缩和舒张能力得到改善,心指数明显下降,心肌细胞体积变小,纤维化减少,ERK1/2 mRNA表达下调,心肌组织损害均得到不同程度改善。结论：ERK1/2信号通路活化参与了异丙肾上腺素诱导的心肌肥厚,法舒地尔对异丙肾上腺素诱导的心肌肥厚具有明显改善作用,这可能与法舒地尔阻断ERK1、ERK2通路活化有关。     

siRNA对神经肽Y诱导的大鼠心肌细胞肥大Ca2+/CaM-CaN通路的影响

采用差速贴壁法体外原代培养大鼠心肌细胞;NPY刺激培养的心肌细胞增殖;RNA干涉特异性抑制CaN的活性,阻断NPY刺激的心肌细胞中Ca2 /CaM-CaN信号转导通路;观察对CaN活性、表达水平和心肌细胞蛋白合成速率的变化.实验结果显示NPY可增加心肌细胞的CaN活性和表达,加快细胞内蛋白合成速率.RNA干涉抑制CaN活性后,明显降低NPY刺激的蛋白合成速率.CaN参与了NPY刺激的心肌细胞增殖,RNA干涉通过抑制CaN的活性可阻断N PY诱导的心肌细胞肥大Ca2 /CaM-CaN通路.     

钙调神经磷酸酶在肾血管性高血压大鼠心肌肥厚发展中的作用

本文观察了钙调神经磷酸酶(calcineurin,CaN)在肾血管性高血压大鼠肥厚心肌中的表达和活性以及CaN抑制剂——环孢菌素A(cyclosporine A,CsA)对逆转心肌肥厚的影响。利用两肾一夹肾血管性高血压大鼠心肌肥厚模型,观察大鼠心肌肥厚程度、CaN mRNA和蛋白质表达及CaN活性的改变。结果显示:大鼠左室重与胫骨长度的比值和光镜下心肌细胞横截面积在两肾一夹2月和3月组都较相应假手术组增高(P<0.05),CsA组大鼠左室重与胫骨长度比值、心肌细胞横截面积较两肾一夹2月和3月组均显著下降(P<0.05),与假手术组无显著性差异。大鼠心肌CaN mRNA和蛋白质表达及CaN活性在两肾一夹2月和3月组均高于相应假手术组(P<0.05),在CsA组低于两肾一夹2月和3月组(P<0.05)。这些结果提示,CaN参与肾血管性高血压大鼠心肌肥厚发展,抑制CaN活性可逆转心肌肥厚。     

吴茱萸次碱对肺动脉高压大鼠右心室重构的影响

目的：观察吴茱萸次碱（Rut）对野百合碱（MCT）诱导的肺动脉高压（PH）大鼠右心室重构的作用及机制。方法：SD大鼠48只适应性喂养一周,随机分为正常对照组、Mcr组、MCT＋Rut（20mg／kg）及Mcr＋Rut（40mg／kg）剂量组（n=12）。MCT（60mg／kg）皮下注射诱导PH大鼠模型。连续给药4周后,右颈外静脉插管测定大鼠右心室收缩压（RVSP）、平均肺动脉压（MPAP）。分离大鼠右心室（RV）、左心室＋室间隔（LV＋s）并称重,剥离大鼠胫骨并测量其长度,计算av／（LV＋s）gRV／胫骨长度的比值。HE染色观察右心室病理学变化,Masson染色观察右心室胶原沉积的变化。比色法测定右心室总抗氧化能力（T-AOC）、丙二醛（MDA）含量。Real time PCR、Western blot及免疫组化检测右心室NADPH氧化酶4（NOX4）mRNA和蛋白表达。结果：Rut连续给药4周后能明显降低MCT诱导的PH大鼠RVSP及mPAP,减轻RV／（Lv＋s）及RV重量／胫骨长度的比值,改善右心室病理变化,降低右心室胶原的沉积及collagenI、collagenHI的表达,提高右心室T-AOC水平,降低右心室NOX4的表达及MDA含量。结论：Rut能够缓解野百合碱诱导的PH大鼠右心室重构,其机制可能与抑制NOX4的表达,进而降低氧化应激损伤有关。     

尾加压素Ⅱ及其受体在肺动脉高压大鼠右心室的表达

目的：观察尾加压素Ⅱ（UⅡ）及其受体UT在慢性低Q高C02肺动脉高压大鼠右心室的表达。方法：健康SD大鼠20只随机分成正常对照组和低氧高二氧化碳4周（HH）组,分别测定平均肺动脉压力（InPAP）,右心室游离壁（Rv）和左心室加室间隔（LV＋S）的重量比;放免法测定大鼠血浆UⅡ含量;免疫组化方法检测心肌细胞、心肌小动脉UⅡ蛋白的表达;组织原位杂交方法检测心肌细胞、心肌小动脉UⅡmRNA和UⅡ受体（UT）mRNA的表达。结果：①HH组InPAP和RV／LV＋S比正常对照组分别高52．0％与25．4％（P均〈0．01）。②HH组血浆UⅡ水平较正常对照组无明显增高。③免疫组化显示HH组心肌细胞UⅡ蛋白表达阳性率和心肌小动脉UⅡ蛋白表达的平均吸光度值均明显高于正常对照组（P〈0．01）。④组织原位杂交可见HH组的心肌细胞UⅡmRNA表达阳性率和心肌小动脉UⅡmRNA表达的平均吸光度值均明显高于正常对照组（P均〈0．01）。⑤组织原位杂交可见HH组的心肌细胞UTmRNA表达阳性率和心肌小动脉UTmRNA表达的平均吸光度值均较正常对照组明显增高（P均〈0．01）。结论：慢性低氧高二氧化碳性大鼠肺动脉高压及右室肥大形成过程中,心肌小动脉和心肌细胞的UⅡ及其受体UT的表达均呈现明显上调,提示UⅡ可能有促进心肌细胞增殖,导致右心室重构的作用。推测UⅡ在慢性低氧高二氧化碳性肺动脉高压及右室肥大的形成机制中具有重要的病理生理意义。     

Inhibition of NOS enhances pulmonary vascular changes in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

To determine the effects of chronic nitric oxide (NO) blockade on the pulmonary vasculature, 58-day-old spontaneously hypertensive rats of the stroke-prone substrain (SHRSP) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) received N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA; 15 mg. kg(-1). day(-1) orally for 8 days). Relaxation to acetylcholine (ACh) in hilar pulmonary arteries (PAs), the ratio of right ventricular (RV) to body weight (RV/BW) to assess RV hypertrophy (RVH), and the percent medial wall thickness (WT) of resistance PAs were examined. L-NNA did not alter the PA relaxation, RV/BW, or WT in WKY. Although the PA relaxation and RV/BW in control SHRSP were comparable to those in WKY, the WT was increased (31 +/- 2 vs. 19 +/- 1%). L-NNA-treated SHRSP showed two patterns: in one group, the relaxation, RV/BW, and WT were comparable to those in the control SHRSP; in the other, impaired relaxation (36 +/- 7 vs. 88 +/- 4% for WKY) was associated with an increase in WT (37 +/- 1%) and RV/BW (0. 76 +/- 0.05). Thus the abnormal pulmonary vasculature in SHRSP at <10 wk of age is not accompanied by impaired relaxation in PAs or RVH; however, impaired relaxation is associated with increased WT and RVH.     

Progressive development of pulmonary hypertension leading to right ventricular hypertrophy assessed by echocardiography in rats.

The present study aimed to evaluate the development of pulmonary hypertension by serial echocardiography, including measurements of pulmonary artery (PA) flow velocities, and correlate echocardiographic indices with pathological findings in rats administered monocrotaline (MCT). MCT (60 mg/kg body weight) or physiologic saline was administered to a total of 9 male Wistar rats at the age of 4 weeks (MCT group: n = 4, control group: n = 5, respectively). Echocardiography was performed serially until the age of 8 weeks. The ratio of right ventricular (RV) outflow tract dimensions to aortic dimensions increased progressively in the MCT group and became significantly greater than that of the control group after the age of 6 weeks. Peak PA velocity (Peak V) in the MCT group was significantly less than that of the control group at the ages of 7 and 8 weeks. The ratio of acceleration time to ejection time (AT/ET) in PA flow waveforms declined progressively and was significantly less than that of the control group after the age of 6 weeks. The ratio of RV weight to body weight (RVW/BW) in the MCT group was significantly greater than that of the control group. Both AT/ET ratio and Peak V were significantly inversely correlated with RVW/BW ratio. Furthermore, these echocardiographic findings were also significantly inversely correlated with the mean cross-sectional RV myocyte area. In conclusion, the progressive development of pulmonary hypertension leading to RV hypertrophy can be evaluated appropriately by echocardiography including PA flow Doppler indices in rats.     

Remodeling excitation-contraction coupling of hypertrophied ventricular myocytes is dependent on T-type calcium channels expression

We utilized Wistar rats with monocrotaline (MCT)-induced right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) in order to evaluate the T-type Ca2+ channel current (ICaT) for myocardial contraction. RT-PCR provides that mRNA for T-type Ca2+ channel alpha1-subunits in hypertrophied myocytes was significantly higher than those in control rats (alpha1G; 264+/-36%, alpha1H; 191+/-34%; P<0.05). By whole-cell patch-clamp study, ICaT was recorded only in hypertrophied myocytes but not in control myocytes. The application of 50 nmol/L nifedipine reduced the twitch tension of the right ventricles equally in the control and RVH rats. On the other hand, 0.5 micromol/L mibefradil, a T-type Ca2+ channel blocker, strongly inhibited the twitch tension of the RVH muscle (control 6.4+/-0.8% vs. RVH 20.0+/-2.3% at 5 Hz; P<0.01). In conclusion, our results indicate the functional expression of T-type Ca2+ channels in the hypertrophied heart and their contribution to the remodeling of excitation-contraction coupling in the cardiac myocyte.     

Chronic treatment with probucol effectively inhibits progression of pulmonary hypertension in rats

It has been reported that probucol is a lipid-lowering agent having a strong antioxidative effect and inhibitory action on vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. In this work, we studied the effect of treatment with a 1% probucol diet on pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline (MCT) in rats. Rats were fed a control or 1% probucol-supplemented diet for 7 days, then given a single subcutaneous injection of 60 mg/kg MCT or saline, and continuously fed the same diet for 20 days, respectively. MCT caused an increase in right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), an indicator of pulmonary hypertension, and central venous pressure (CVP) on day 20. In rats receiving a diet containing 1% probucol, RVSP was significantly lower than that in rats treated with control diet, and CVP remained essentially at the basal level. On day 20, MCT also caused an increase in the ratio of right ventricular (RV) to body weight (BW), compared to the control value, indicating the development of RV hypertrophy in MCT rats. RV hypertrophy was significantly inhibited in 1% probucol-treated rats. These findings suggest that chronic treatment with probucol effectively inhibits the progression of pulmonary hypertension in rats.     

Allicin in garlic protects against coronary endothelial dysfunction and right heart hypertrophy in pulmonary hypertensive rats

We recently reported that coronary endothelial cell (CEC) dysfunction may contribute to the development of right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy (RVH) in monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertensive rats. This present study investigated whether preservation of CEC function with garlic and its active metabolite allicin could abrogate RVH. Rats were fed with 1% raw garlic (RG)-supplemented diet 1 day or 3 wk before and 1 day after MCT injection, and changes in RV pressure (RVP), RVH, and CEC function were assessed 3 wk after MCT administration. In all cases, RG feeding significantly inhibited the development of RVP and RVH in these MCT rats. However, similar treatments with either boiled garlic (BG) or aged garlic (AG), which do not contain the active allicin metabolite, were ineffective. CEC function, assessed with acetylcholine-induced dilation as well as N(omega)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester-induced constriction, revealed marked attenuation in right, but not left, coronary arteries of the MCT rats. This is consistent with our earlier report. Feeding of RG, but not BG or AG, preserved the CEC function and prevented the exaggerated vasoconstrictory responses of the MCT coronary arteries. There was no change in the coronary dilatory responses to a nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside. Further testings of vasoactivity to garlic extracts showed that only RG, but not BG or AG, elicited a potent, dose-dependent dilation on the isolated coronaries. Taken together, these findings show that the protective effect of garlic against the development of RVP and RVH in MCT-treated rats is probably mediated via its active metabolite allicin action on coronary endothelial function and vasoreactivity.     

Arrhythmogenic substrate in hearts of rats with monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy

Mechanisms associated with right ventricular (RV) hypertension and arrhythmias are less understood than those in the left ventricle (LV). The aim of our study was to investigate whether and by what mechanisms a proarrhythmic substrate exists in a rat model of RV hypertension and hypertrophy. Rats were injected with monocrotaline (MCT; 60 mg/kg) to induce pulmonary artery hypertension or with saline (CON). Myocardial levels of mRNA for genes expressing ion channels were measured by real-time RT-PCR. Monophasic action potential duration (MAPD) was recorded in isolated Langendorff-perfused hearts. MAPD restitution was measured, and arrhythmias were induced by burst stimulation. Twenty-two to twenty-six days after treatment, MCT animals had RV hypertension, hypertrophy, and decreased ejection fractions compared with CON. A greater proportion of MCT hearts developed sustained ventricular tachycardias/fibrillation (0.83 MCT vs. 0.14 CON). MAPD was prolonged in RV and less so in the LV of MCT hearts. There were decreased levels of mRNA for K(+) channels. Restitution curves of MCT RV were steeper than CON RV or either LV. Dispersion of MAPD was greater in MCT hearts and was dependent on stimulation frequency. Computer simulations based on ion channel gene expression closely predicted experimental changes in MAPD and restitution. We have identified a proarrhythmic substrate in the hearts of MCT-treated rats. We conclude that steeper RV electrical restitution and rate-dependant RV-LV action potential duration dispersion may be contributing mechanisms and be implicated in the generation of arrhythmias associated with in RV hypertension and hypertrophy.     

Hypoxia reduces atrial natriuretic peptide clearance receptor gene expression in ANP knockout mice

We tested the hypotheses that hypoxic exposure is associated with exacerbated pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular (RV) enlargement, reduced atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) clearance receptor (NPR-C) expression, and enhanced B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) expression in the absence of ANP. Male wild-type [ANP(+/+)], heterozygous [ANP(+/-)], and homozygous [ANP(-/-)] mice were studied after a 5-wk hypoxic exposure (10% O(2)). Hypoxia increased RV ANP mRNA and plasma ANP levels only in ANP(+/+) and ANP(+/-) mice. Hypoxia-induced increases in RV pressure were significantly greater in ANP(-/-) than in ANP(+/+) or ANP(+/-) mice (104 +/- 17 vs. 45 +/- 10 and 63 +/- 7%, respectively) as were increases in RV mass (38 +/- 4 vs. 26 +/- 5 and 29 +/- 4%, respectively). NPR-C mRNA levels were greatly reduced in the kidney, lung, and brain by hypoxia in all three genotypes. RV BNP mRNA and lung and kidney cGMP levels were increased in hypoxic mice. These findings indicate that disrupted ANP expression worsens hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and RV enlargement but does not alter hypoxia-induced decreases in NPR-C and suggest that compensatory increases in BNP expression occur in the absence of ANP.     

Capsaicin pre- and post-treatment on rat monocrotaline pneumotoxicity

Monocrotaline (MCT) produces respiratory dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension (PH), and right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) in rats. Tachykinins, such as substance P (SP) and neurokinin A (NKA), may mediate these effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the length of tachykinin depletion (via capsaicin treatment) is needed to prevent (or attenuate) PH and/or RVH. Six groups of rats were injected subcutaneously with saline (3 ml/kg); capsaicin followed by saline or MCT (60 mg/kg); or MCT followed 7, 11, or 14 days later by capsaicin. Capsaicin (cumulative dose, 500 mg/kg) was given over a period of 4-5 days. Respiratory function, pulmonary vascular parameters, lung tachykinin levels, and tracheal neutral endopeptidase (NEP) activity were measured 21 days after MCT or saline injection. Capsaicin significantly decreased lung levels of SP but not NKA. Both capsaicin pretreatment and posttreatment blocked the following MCT-induced alterations: increases in lung SP and airway constriction; decreases in tracheal NEP activity and dynamic respiratory compliance. Administration of capsaicin before or 7 days after MCT blocked MCT-induced PH and RVH. The above data suggest that the early tachykinin-mediated airway dysfunction requires only transient elevated tachykinins, while progression of late tachykinin-mediated effects (PH and RVH) requires elevated tachykinins for more than one week.     

Nicorandil prevents right ventricular remodeling by inhibiting apoptosis and lowering pressure overload in rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension

Background

Most of the deaths among patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are caused by progressive right ventricular (RV) pathological remodeling, dysfunction, and failure. Nicorandil can inhibit the development of PAH by reducing pulmonary artery pressure and RV hypertrophy. However, whether nicorandil can inhibit apoptosis in RV cardiomyocytes and prevent RV remodeling has been unclear.

Methodology/Principal Findings

RV remodeling was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of monocrotaline (MCT). RV systolic pressure (RVSP) was measured at the end of each week after MCT injection. Blood samples were drawn for brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) ELISA analysis. The hearts were excised for histopathological, ultrastructural, immunohistochemical, and Western blotting analyses. The MCT-injected rats exhibited greater mortality and less weight gain and showed significantly increased RVSP and RV hypertrophy during the second week. These worsened during the third week. MCT injection for three weeks caused pathological RV remodeling, characterized by hypertrophy, fibrosis, dysfunction, and RV mitochondrial impairment, as indicated by increased levels of apoptosis. Nicorandil improved survival, weight gain, and RV function, ameliorated RV pressure overload, and prevented maladaptive RV remodeling in PAH rats. Nicorandil also reduced the number of apoptotic cardiomyocytes, with a concomitant increase in Bcl-2/Bax ratio. 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) reversed these beneficial effects of nicorandil in MCT-injected rats.

Conclusions/Significance

Nicorandil inhibits PAH-induced RV remodeling in rats not only by reducing RV pressure overload but also by inhibiting apoptosis in cardiomyocytes through the activation of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K⁺ (mitoK_ATP) channels. The use of a mitoK_ATP channel opener such as nicorandil for PAH-associated RV remodeling and dysfunction may represent a new therapeutic strategy for the amelioration of RV remodeling during the early stages of PAH.     

Characterization of right ventricular function after monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension in the intact rat

We characterized hemodynamics and systolic and diastolic right ventricular (RV) function in relation to structural changes in the rat model of monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension. Rats were treated with MCT at 30 mg/kg body wt (MCT30, n = 15) and 80 mg/kg body wt (MCT80, n = 16) to induce compensated RV hypertrophy and RV failure, respectively. Saline-treated rats served as control (Cont, n = 13). After 4 wk, a pressure-conductance catheter was introduced into the RV to assess pressure-volume relations. Subsequently, rats were killed, hearts and lungs were rapidly dissected, and RV, left ventricle (LV), and interventricular septum (IVS) were weighed and analyzed histochemically. RV-to-(LV + IVS) weight ratio was 0.29 +/- 0.05 in Cont, 0.35 +/- 0.05 in MCT30, and 0.49 +/- 0.10 in MCT80 (P < 0.001 vs. Cont and MCT30) rats, confirming MCT-induced RV hypertrophy. RV ejection fraction was 49 +/- 6% in Cont, 40 +/- 12% in MCT30 (P < 0.05 vs. Cont), and 26 +/- 6% in MCT80 (P < 0.05 vs. Cont and MCT30) rats. In MCT30 rats, cardiac output was maintained, but RV volumes and filling pressures were significantly increased compared with Cont (all P < 0.05), indicating RV remodeling. In MCT80 rats, RV systolic pressure, volumes, and peak wall stress were further increased, and cardiac output was significantly decreased (all P < 0.05). However, RV end-systolic and end-diastolic stiffness were unchanged, consistent with the absence of interstitial fibrosis. MCT-induced pressure overload was associated with a dose-dependent development of RV hypertrophy. The most pronounced response to MCT was an overload-dependent increase of RV end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes, even under nonfailing conditions.