Protective effects of leptin on ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat bladder

The aim of the study was to evaluate protective effects of exogenous leptin on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced injuries to the urinary bladder tissue and to investigate the effect on tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) levels and apoptotic cells during I/R injury. Bladder I/R injury was induced by abdominal aorta occlusion by ischemia for 45 min, followed by 60 min of reperfusion in rats. The rats were divided into three groups: control (n = 8 + 8), I/R (n = 8 + 8) and I/R+leptin group (n = 8 + 8). The rats in the I/R+leptin group were treated intraperitoneally with leptin (10 microg/kg) 60 min prior to ischemia induction. At the end of the reperfusion period, urinary bladders of the first eight rats from each group were removed for TUNEL staining processing while the others were removed for biochemical analyses for MDA and TNF-alpha levels. In the I/R group, the ratios of TUNEL-positive nuclei were higher than the control and the I/R+leptin groups. The MDA and TNF-alpha levels of the bladder tissue in the I/R group were higher than the control and leptin-treated groups. TUNEL-staining and biochemical studies revealed that leptin has a protective effect on urinary bladder I/R injury.     

Cardioprotection by chronic estrogen or superoxide dismutase mimetic treatment in the aged female rat

Aging and estrogen deficiency increase the risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Oxidative stress has also been implicated in the pathophysiology of CVD and in ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. We tested the hypothesis that chronic in vivo estrogen treatment or superoxide inhibition with the SOD mimetic EUK-8 improves cardiac functional recovery after I/R in the aged female rat. Sprague-Dawley rats (12-14 mo) were used as follows: intact (n = 6), ovariectomized + placebo (OVX, n = 6), OVX + EUK-8 (EUK-8, 3 mg/kg, n = 6), and OVX + estrogen (1.5 mg/pellet, 60 days release, n = 6). Perfused isolated hearts were subjected to global ischemia (25 min) followed by reperfusion (40 min). Functional recovery after I/R and myocardial protein expression of NADPH oxidase (p22, p67, and gp91(phox)), inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS), endothelial NOS, and SOD1, as well as nitrotyrosine levels (as a marker for peroxynitrite), were assessed. Compared with OVX, EUK-8 and estrogen markedly improved functional recovery after I/R, which was associated with a decrease in NADPH oxidase expression and nitrotyrosine staining. However, estrogen increased inducible NOS expression, whereas EUK-8 had little effect. There were no significant changes in endothelial NOS and SOD1 expression among the groups. These results indicate that EUK-8 and estrogen improved cardiac recovery after I/R. Given the controversy surrounding hormone replacement therapy, EUK-8 may be an alternative to estrogen in protecting those at risk for myocardial ischemia in the aging population.     

Dimethylthiourea, but not dimethylsulfoxide, reduces canine myocardial infarct size

We studied the effect of treatment with two diffusible, low molecular weight scavengers of toxic oxygen metabolites, dimethylthiourea (DMTU) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), on canine infarcts caused by 90 min of ischemia and 3 h of reperfusion. Infarct size was determined by incubating ventricular slices with triphenyl tetrazolium chloride. Areas at risk were determined by autoradiography of 99Tc microspheres injected in vivo during ischemia and were similar (p greater than 0.05) in DMTU, DMSO, and saline treated dogs. However, the ratio of infarct size to area at risk was reduced (p less than 0.05) in dogs treated 30 min before reperfusion with 500 mg/kg DMTU (31.1 +/- 4.6%, n = 9) compared with saline treated dogs (53.4 +/- 4.6% n = 9). In contrast, the ratio of infarct size to area at risk was not significantly different (p greater than 0.05) in dogs treated with 2000 mg/kg DMSO 30 min before reperfusion (43.7 +/- 4.3%) compared to saline treated dogs. The serum concentration of DMTU (4.5 mM) was one-tenth that of DMSO (48 mM) in early reperfusion. Therefore, DMTU but not DMSO protected against post-ischemic cardiac reperfusion injury.     

A poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase inhibitor, benzamide protects smooth muscle cells but not endothelium against ischemia/reperfusion injury in isolated guinea-pig heart

Activation of the nuclear enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase (PARS) is important in the cellular response to oxidative stress. During ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) increased free radical production leads to DNA breakage that stimulates PARS which in turn results in an energy-consuming metabolic cycle and initiation of the apoptotic process. Previous studies have reported that PARS inhibition confers protection in various models of I/R-induced cardiovascular damage. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of PARS inhibition in I/R-induced injury of smooth muscle cells and endothelium in the coronary circulation of the isolated guinea-pig heart. Control hearts and those treated with a PARS inhibitor--benzamide (100 micromol L(-1)), were subjected to 30 min of subglobal ischemia and subsequent reperfusion (90 min). To analyze the functional integrity of smooth muscle cells and endothelium, one-minute intracoronary infusions of endothelium-independent (sodium nitroprusside, NaNP; 3 micromol L(-1)) and endothelium-dependent (substance P, SP; 10 nmol L(-1)) vasodilators were used before ischemia and at the reperfusion time. The degree of the injury of coronary smooth muscle and endothelial cells induced by I/R was estimated in terms of diminished vasodilator responses to NaNP (at 55 min and 85 min of reperfusion) and to SP (at 70 min of reperfusion), respectively, and expressed as the percentage of preischemic response. I/R reduced vasorelaxant responses to both vasodilators by half (to 54.1 +/- 5.1% and to 53.6 +/- 4.9% of preischemic value for NaNP at 55 min and 85 min of reperfusion, respectively and to 45.9 +/- 6.5% for SP at 70 min of reperfusion). PARS inhibition provided complete restoration of vasorelaxation induced by NaNP (107.6 +/- 13.3% and 104 +/- 14.4% of preischemic response at the two time points of reperfusion, respectively). However, there was no effect on the SP-induced response (48+12.1% of preischemic response). We conclude that pharmacological PARS inhibition with benzamide protects coronary smooth muscle cells but not endothelium against I/R-induced reperfusion injury in the coronary circulation of the guinea-pig heart.     

Ischemic preconditioning prevents in vivo hyperoxygenation in postischemic myocardium with preservation of mitochondrial oxygen consumption

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) strongly protects against ischemia-reperfusion injury; however, its effect on subsequent myocardial oxygenation is unknown. Therefore, we determine in an in vivo mouse model of regional ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) if IPC attenuates postischemic myocardial hyperoxygenation and decreases formation of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), with preservation of mitochondrial function. The following five groups of mice were studied: sham, control (I/R), ischemic preconditioning (IPC + I/R, 3 cycles of 5 min coronary occlusion/5 min reperfusion) and IPC + I/R N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester treated, and IPC + I/R eNOS knockout mice. I/R and IPC + I/R mice were subjected to 30 min regional ischemia followed by 60 min reperfusion. Myocardial Po(2) and redox state were monitored by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. In the IPC + I/R, but not the I/R group, regional blood flow was increased after reperfusion. Po(2) upon reperfusion increased significantly above preischemic values in I/R but not in IPC + I/R mice. Tissue redox state was measured from the reduction rate of a spin probe, and this rate was 60% higher in IPC than in non-IPC hearts. Activities of NADH dehydrogenase (NADH-DH) and cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) were reduced in I/R mice after 60 min reperfusion but conserved in IPC + I/R mice compared with sham. There were no differences in NADH-DH and CcO expression in I/R and IPC + I/R groups compared with sham. After 60 min reperfusion, strong nitrotyrosine formation was observed in I/R mice, but only weak staining was observed in IPC + I/R mice. Thus IPC markedly attenuates postischemic myocardial hyperoxygenation with less ROS/RNS generation and preservation of mitochondrial O(2) metabolism because of conserved NADH-DH and CcO activities.     

Diazoxide ameliorates microcirculatory disturbances through PKC-dependent Pathway in I/R-injured rat cremaster muscles

Summary Diazoxide is a selective mitochondria ATP-sensitive potassium (K_ATP) channel opener, which has been reported to preserve the microvascular integrity of ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)-injured tissues. Our study aimed to assess diazoxide’s effects on I/R-injured cremaster muscles and to further elucidate its underlying mechanisms. Male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomized (n = 8 per group) into four groups: sham-operated control group, I/R group (4 h of pudic epigastic artery ischemia followed by 2 h of reperfusion), diazoxide + I/R group, and chelerythrine (PKC inhibitor)+diazoxide+I/R group. Microscopically, we observed that I/R markedly increased the number of rolling, adhering, and transmigrating leukocytes. I/R also markedly decreased the number of functional capillaries. Biochemically, we found that I/R significantly increased TNF-α, E-selectin,L-selectin and P-selectin expressions. However, I/R did not cause significant changes in ICAM-1 and PECAM-1 expressions. On the other hand, in I/R + diazoxide group, we found that diazoxide reduced the number of rolling, adhering, and transmigrating leukocytes. Furthermore, biochemical study revealed that diazoxide caused only a decrease in L-selectin expression but had no effect on TNF-α, E-selectin, P-selectin, ICAM-1, and PECAM-1 expressions. Finally, in chelerythrine + diazoxide + I/R group, we observed that diazoxide’s protective effects were blocked by the addition of chelerythrine. Diazoxide’s ability to protect against I/R injury was confirmed by the observation that it reduced the number of rolling, adhering, and transmigrating leukocytes, and increased the number of functional capillaries. Our results indicated that diazoxide operated via a PKC-dependent pathway to achieve protection against I/R injury.     

Bax ablation protects against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in transgenic mice

The role of the proapototic Bax gene in ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury was studied in three groups of mice: homozygotic knockout mice lacking the Bax gene (Bax(-/-)), heterozygotic mice (Bax(+/-)), and wild-type mice (Bax(+/+)). Isolated hearts were subjected to ischemia (30 min, 37 degrees C) and then to 120 min of reperfusion. The left ventricular developed force of Bax-deficient vs. Bax(+/+) hearts at stabilization and at 120 min of reperfusion was 1,411 +/- 177 vs. 1,161 +/- 137 mg and 485 +/- 69 vs. 306 +/- 68 mg, respectively. Superior cardiac function of Bax(-/-) hearts after I/R was accompanied by a decrease in creatine kinase release, caspase 3 activity, irreversible ischemic injury, and the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling-positive cardiomyocytes. Electron microscopic evaluation revealed reduced damage to mitochondria and the nuclear chromatin structure in Bax-deficient mice. In the Bax(+/-) hearts, the damage markers were moderate. The superior tolerance of Bax knockout hearts to I/R injury recommends this gene as a potential target for therapeutic intervention in patients with severe and intractable myocardial ischemia.     

硫化氢对大鼠心肌缺血/再灌注损伤的保护作用及其对c-Fos蛋白表达的影响

为探讨硫化氢(hydrogen sulfide,H2S)对大鼠心肌缺血,再灌注(ischemia/reperfusion,I/R)损伤的保护作用及机制,雄性Sprague-Dawley大鼠被随机分为对照组(假手术组)、I/R组、2.8μmol/kg体重NaHS干预组、14 μmol/kg体重NaHS干预组.结扎冠状动脉前降支30 min后,松扎再灌注60 min,心电图Ⅱ导联检测和TTC染色测定心肌梗死面积评价制作的心肌I/R模型:测定血浆中H2S浓度变化;监测血流动力学指标(LVSP,LV±dp/dtmax);HE染色和透射电镜观察心肌形态学改变;免疫组织化学方法测定心肌组织中c-Fos蛋白表达.结果显示:心肌I/R后血浆中H2S浓度明显低于对照组[(30.32±5.26)vs(58.28±7.86)μmol/L,P<0.05]:2.8和14μmol/kg体重NaHS均可显著改善I/R引起的心功能改变,且14μmol/kg体重NaHS较2.8 μmol/kg体重NaHS作用强;14 μmol/kg体重NaHS明显减轻心肌形态学及超微结构损伤,同时降低大鼠I/R心肌组织中c-Fos蛋白表达(0.20±0.06vs0.32±0.10,P<0.05).以上结果提示,H2S对大鼠心肌的I/R损伤有保护作用,这可能与其降低c-Fos蛋白表达有关.     

Role of leukocytes and tissue-derived oxidants in short-term skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion injury

The relative contribution of xanthine oxidase (XO) and leukocytes to tissue injury after short-term ischemia is unknown. In this study, we subjected three groups of rat spinotrapezius muscles to 30-min ischemia and 1-h reperfusion: 1) ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) + 0.9% saline, 2) I/R + superoxide dismutase, and 3) I/R + oxypurinol. A fourth group served as nonischemic control. We quantified the increase in resistance (%DeltaR) caused by leukocyte-capillary plugging concurrently with myocyte uptake of propidium iodide (PI) [expressed as no. of PI spots per total volume of perfused tissue (N(PI)/V)] and performed assays to quantify XO activity, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and myeloperoxidase (MPO). Groups 2 and 3 exhibited significant decreases in N(PI)/V relative to group 1. MPO levels and TBARS were similar among all groups, and mean %DeltaR was significantly reduced in groups 2 and 3 relative to group 1. However, elevated XO was observed in groups 1 and 2 relative to group 3 and nonischemic controls. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that XO, rather than toxic species produced by plugging or venule-adherent leukocytes, is responsible for postischemic damage in this model.     

Ischemia-reperfusion-induced calpain activation and SERCA2a degradation are attenuated by exercise training and calpain inhibition

The Ca2+-activated protease calpain has been shown to play a deleterious role in the heart during ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). We tested the hypothesis that exercise training would minimize I/R-induced calpain activation and provide cardioprotection against I/R-induced injury. Hearts from adult male rats were isolated in a working heart preparation, and myocardial injury was induced with 25 min of global ischemia followed by 45 min of reperfusion. In sedentary control rats, I/R significantly increased calpain activity and impaired cardiac performance (cardiac work during reperfusion = 24% of baseline). Compared with sedentary animals, exercise training prevented the I/R-induced rise in calpain activity and improved cardiac work (recovery = 80% of baseline). Similar to exercise, pharmacological inhibition of calpain activity resulted in comparable cardioprotection against I/R injury (recovery = 86% of baseline). The exercise-induced protection against I/R-induced calpain activation was not due to altered myocardial protein levels of calpain or calpastatin. However, exercise training was associated with increased myocardial antioxidant enzyme activity (Mn-SOD, catalase) and a reduction in oxidative stress. Importantly, exercise training also prevented the I/R-induced degradation of sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA)2a. These findings suggest that increases in endogenous antioxidants may diminish the free radical-mediated damage and/or degradation of Ca2+ handling proteins (such as SERCA2a) typically observed after I/R. In conclusion, these results support the concept that calpain activation is an important component of I/R-induced injury and that exercise training provides cardioprotection against I/R injury, at least in part, by attenuating I/R-induced calpain activation.     

β(2)-adrenoreceptor mediates the cardioprotection of ischemic preconditioning on myocardial contraction in rats subjected to ischemia/reperfusion injury

The aim of the present study is to investigate the role of beta(2)-adrenoreceptor (beta(2)-AR) in ischemic preconditioning (IP) in isolated rat heart model of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Sprague-Dawley rat hearts were quickly removed, mounted on Langendorff apparatus, and perfused with Krebs-Henseleit (KH) solution. After the initial stabilization period, the rats were randomly divided into 6 groups including control group (perfused for an additional 20 min), IP group (4 cycles of 5 min of ischemia followed by 5 min of reflow), isoproterenol (ISO) group (10 nmol/L ISO perfusion for 5 min followed by 5 min washout), IP + ICI118551 group (55 nmol/L ICI118551 perfusion for 5 min before and throughout IP), ISO + ICI118551 group (55 nmol/L ICI118551 perfusion for 5 min before and throughout ISO treatment), ICI118551 group (55 nmol/L ICI118551 perfusion for 20 min). After these treatments, all hearts were followed by 30 min of no-flow ischemia and 30 min of reperfusion. A computer-based electrophysiological recorder system was used to measure changes of the maximal rate of pressure increase in systole phase (+dp/dt(max)), maximal rate of pressure decrease in diastole phase (-dp/dt(max)), and difference of left ventricular pressure (DeltaLVP). Then cardiomyocytes from these hearts were isolated by 5 min of Ca(2+)-free buffer perfusion and 25 min of collagenase perfusion. The ventricles were chopped and filtered. The myocytes were resuspended in KB buffer. The contraction and the viability of cardiomyocytes were measured. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentration in coronary effluent was assayed with assay kit. The results showed that both IP and ISO significantly increased the values of +/-dp/dt(max), DeltaLVP, the contraction and viability of cardiomyocytes, shortened the time-to-peak contraction (TTP), and decreased the release of LDH in coronary effluent. ICI118551, a selective beta(2)-AR antagonist, blocked these effects. Either the time-to-50% relaxation (R(50)) or the time-to-100% relaxation (R(100)) had no significant differences between groups. Our results indicate that the cardioprotection of IP was mediated by beta(2)-AR in isolated rat hearts subjected to I/R injury.     

Effect of Renshen polysaccharides on oxidative injury in kidney IR rabbits

There is increasing evidence to suggest that reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) play a role in the pathogenesis of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in the kidney. This study was designed to determine the possible protective effect of Renshen polysaccharides (RSP) on renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Results showed that the polysaccharides of Renshen consisted mainly of glucose (29.21%), mannose (6.54%), rhamnose (4.34%), arabose (6.92%), galactose (18.41%). In addition, kidney lipid peroxidation level in IR rabbits were markedly increased, whereas antioxidant enzymes activities were significantly decreased. Renshen polysaccharides pre-treatment could decrease oxidative injury in kidney of IR rabbits.     

Efferent vagal nerve stimulation induces tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rabbit

Vagal nerve stimulation has been suggested to ameliorate left ventricular (LV) remodeling in heart failure. However, it is not known whether and to what degree vagal nerve stimulation affects matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and tissue inhibitor of MMP (TIMP) in myocardium, which are known to play crucial roles in LV remodeling. We therefore investigated the effects of electrical stimulation of efferent vagal nerve on myocardial expression and activation of MMPs and TIMPs in a rabbit model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Anesthetized rabbits were subjected to 60 min of left coronary artery occlusion and 180 min of reperfusion with (I/R-VS, n = 8) or without vagal nerve stimulation (I/R, n = 7). Rabbits not subjected to coronary occlusion with (VS, n = 7) or without vagal stimulation (sham, n = 7) were used as controls. Total MMP-9 protein increased significantly after left coronary artery occlusion in I/R-VS and I/R to a similar degree compared with VS and sham values. Endogenous active MMP-9 protein level was significantly lower in I/R-VS compared with I/R. TIMP-1 mRNA expression was significantly increased in I/R-VS compared with the I/R, VS, and sham groups. TIMP-1 protein was significantly increased in I/R-VS and VS compared with the I/R and sham groups. Cardiac microdialysis technique demonstrated that topical perfusion of acetylcholine increased dialysate TIMP-1 protein level, which was suppressed by coperfusion of atropine. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated a strong expression of TIMP-1 protein in cardiomyocytes around the dialysis probe used to perfuse acetylcholine. In conclusion, in a rabbit model of myocardial I/R injury, vagal nerve stimulation induced TIMP-1 expression in cardiomyocytes and reduced active MMP-9.     

Neutrophil adherence receptors (CD 18) in ischemia. Dissociation between quantitative cell surface expression and diapedesis mediated by leukotriene B4

Neutrophils and eicosanoid chemoattractants are centrally involved with ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. The CD 18 complex of adhesive glycoproteins, readily up-regulated by chemoattractants in vitro, is required for polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) adherence to endothelium. This study tests whether CD 18 is up-regulated by ischemia in vivo and its role in mediating PMN diapedesis. Anesthetized rabbits underwent 3 h of bilateral hindlimb tourniquet ischemia (n = 16). Ten min after tourniquet release, levels of plasma leukotriene (LT)B4 increased to 390 +/- 62 pg/ml (mean +/- SE), higher than 134 +/- 26 pg/ml in control rabbits (n = 13, p less than 0.01). Aliquots of plasma were added to whole blood from normal rabbits (n = 6) for flow cytometric analysis of neutrophils with the CD 18 mAb R 15.7. Addition of I/R plasma failed to demonstrate an increase in surface expression of CD 18. Similarly, no CD 18 up-regulation was observed in vivo upon reperfusion in ischemic animals pretreated with mAb R 15.7 (n = 3). However, I/R plasma when introduced into plastic chambers taped atop dermabrasion sites in normal rabbits (n = 12) resulted in diapedesis, measured by the accumulation after 3 h of 1130 +/- 125 PMN/mm3 in the chambers relative to 120 +/- 31 PMN/mm3 with control plasma (p less than 0.01). Diapedesis in response to I/R plasma was abolished by pretreatment with mAb R 15.7 (less than 5 PMN/mm3, n = 6), was reduced by U 75,302, an LTB4 receptor antagonist (253 +/- 101 PMN/mm3, n = 6) (both p less than 0.01) and was not protein synthesis dependent. These results demonstrate that PMN diapedesis in response to I/R plasma is exclusively dependent upon the CD 18 glycoprotein complex by an LTB4-dependent mechanism, despite the fact that CD 18 is not up-regulated on circulating PMN in ischemia. These data indirectly indicate the functional importance of conformational changes of CD 18 in determining PMN adhesion.     

Protection of lung tissue against ischemia/reperfusion injury by preconditioning with inhaled nitric oxide in an in situ pig model of normothermic pulmonary ischemia

Topical administration of nitric oxide (NO) by inhalation is currently used as therapy in various pulmonary diseases, but preconditioning with NO to ameliorate lung ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury has not been fully evaluated. In this study, we investigated the effects of NO inhalation on functional pulmonary parameters using an in situ porcine model of normothermic pulmonary ischemia. After left lateral thoracotomy, left lung ischemia was maintained for 90 min, followed by a 5h reperfusion period (group I, n = 7). In group II (n = 6), I/R was preceded by inhalation of NO (10 min, 15 ppm). Animals in group III (n = 7) underwent sham surgery without NO inhalation or ischemia. In order to evaluate the effects of NO preconditioning, lung functional and hemodynamic parameters were measured, and the zymosan-stimulated release of reactive oxygen species in arterial blood was determined. Animals in group I developed significant pulmonary I/R injury, including pulmonary hypertension, a decreased pO(2) level in pulmonary venous blood of the ischemic lung, and a significant increase of the stimulated release of reactive oxygen species. All these effects were prevented, or the onset (release of reactive oxygen species) was delayed, by NO inhalation. These results indicate that preconditioning by NO inhalation before lung ischemia is protective against I/R injury in the porcine lung.     

Remote preconditioning reduces ischemic injury in the explanted heart by a KATP channel-dependent mechanism

Local and remote ischemic preconditioning (IPC) reduce ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and preserve cardiac function. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that remote preconditioning is memorized by the explanted heart and yields protection from subsequent I/R injury and that the underlying mechanism involves sarcolemmal and mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K(+) (K(ATP)) channels. Male Wistar rats (300-350 g) were randomized to a control (n = 10), a remote IPC (n = 10), and a local IPC group (n = 10). Remote IPC was induced by four cycles of 5 min of limb ischemia, followed by 5 min of reperfusion. Local IPC was induced by four cycles of 2 min of regional myocardial ischemia, followed by 3 min of reperfusion. The heart was excised within 5 min after the final cycle of preconditioning, mounted in a perfused Langendorff preparation for 40 min of stabilization, and subjected to 45 min of sustained ischemia by occluding the left coronary artery and 120 min of reperfusion. I/R injury was assessed as infarct size by triphenyltetrazolium staining. The influence of sarcolemmal and mitochondrial K(ATP) channels on remote preconditioning was assessed by the addition of glibenclamide (10 microM, a nonselective K(ATP) blocker), 5-hydroxydecanoic acid (5-HD; 100 microM, a mitochondrial K(ATP) blocker), and HMR-1098 (30 microM, a sarcolemmal K(ATP) blocker) to the Langendorff preparation before I/R. The role of mitochondrial K(ATP) channels as an effector mechanism for memorizing remote preconditioning was further studied by the effect of the specific mitochondrial K(ATP) activator diaxozide (10 mg/kg) on myocardial infarct size. Remote preconditioning reduced I/R injury in the explanted heart (0.17 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.39 +/- 0.05, P < 0.05) and improved left ventricular function during reperfusion compared with control (P < 0.05). Similar effects were obtained with diazoxide. Remote preconditioning was abolished by the addition of 5-HD and glibenclamide but not by HMR-1098. In conclusion, the protective effect of remote preconditioning is memorized in the explanted heart by a mechanism that involves mitochondrial K(ATP) channels.     

Nitroxyl affords thiol-sensitive myocardial protective effects akin to early preconditioning

Nitric oxide (NO) donors mimic the early phase of ischemic preconditioning (IPC). The effects of nitroxyl (HNO/NO(-)), the one-electron reduction product of NO, on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury are unknown. Here we investigated whether HNO/NO(-), produced by decomposition of Angeli's salt (AS; Na(2)N(2)O(3)), has a cardioprotective effect in isolated perfused rat hearts. Effects were examined after intracoronary perfusion (19 min) of either AS (1 microM), the NO donor diethylamine/NO (DEA/NO, 0.5 microM), vehicle (100 nM NaOH) or buffer, followed by global ischemia (30 min) and reperfusion (30 min or 120 min in a subset of hearts). IPC was induced by three cycles of 3 min ischemia followed by 10 min reperfusion prior to I/R. The extent of I/R injury under each intervention was assessed by changes in myocardial contractility as well as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and infarct size. Postischemic contractility, as indexed by developed pressure and dP/dt(max), was similarly improved with IPC and pre-exposure to AS, as opposed to control or DEA/NO-treated hearts. Infarct size and LDH release were also significantly reduced in IPC and AS groups, whereas DEA/NO was less effective in limiting necrosis. Co-infusion in the triggering phase of AS and the nitroxyl scavenger, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (4 mM) completely reversed the beneficial effects of AS, both at 30 and 120 min reperfusion. Our data show that HNO/NO(-) affords myocardial protection to a degree similar to IPC and greater than NO, suggesting that reactive nitrogen oxide species are not only necessary but also sufficient to trigger myocardial protection against reperfusion through species-dependent, pro-oxidative, and/or nitrosative stress-related mechanisms.     

Cardioprotective Effect of <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Aloe vera</Emphasis> Biomacromolecules Conjugated with Selenium Trace Element on Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the cardioprotection potential and underlying molecular mechanism afforded by a selenium (Se) polysaccharide (Se-AVP) from Aloe vera in the ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) model of rats in vivo. Myocardial I/R injury was induced by occluding the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) for 30 min followed by 2-h continuous reperfusion. Pretreatment with Se-AVP (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) attenuated myocardial damage, as evidenced by reduction of the infarct sizes, increase in serum and myocardial endogenous antioxidants (superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH), and catalase (CAT)), and decrease in the malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the rats suffering I/R injury. This cardioprotective activity afforded by Se-AVP is further supported by the decreased levels of cardiac marker enzymes creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), as well as the rise of myocardial Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase and Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATPase activities in I/R rats. Additionally, cardiomyocytic apoptosis was measured by terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining and the result showed that the percent of TUNEL-positive cells in myocardium of Se-AVP-treated groups was lower than I/R rats. In conclusion, we clearly demonstrated that Se-AVP had a protective effect against myocardial I/R injury in rats by augmenting endogenous antioxidants and protecting rat hearts from oxidative stress-induced myocardial apoptosis.     

N-乙酰半胱氨酸对大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注损伤NF-κ B和ICAM-1表达的影响

目的：探讨大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注损伤NF-κB和ICAM-1表达情况及NAC的保护作用机制。方法：45只雄性SD大鼠随机分成三组：假手术组（Sham组,n=5）;缺血再灌注损伤组（I/R组,n=20）缺血60min后分别再灌注1、3、6、12h;N-乙酰半胱氨酸组（NAC组,n=20）：先自阴茎背静脉给大鼠注射溶于生理盐水的NAC,20min后再按I/R组处理。在各规定的再灌注时间点,分别采用western-blot和免疫组化方法测定肝组织中NF-κB和ICAM-1的表达。结果：I/R组和NAC组再灌注1、3、6、12h后,NF-κB的表达均明显高于Sham组（p〈0.01）,于再灌注3h达到高峰;ICAM-1的表达均明显高于Sham组（p〈0.01）,于再灌注6h达到高峰。NAC组再灌注1、3、6h与I/R组相同时间点比较：NF-κB和ICAM-1的表达均低于I/R组（p〈0.05）。NAC组再灌注12h与I/R组相同时间点比较：NF-κB和ICAM-1的表达虽然在数值上有所减少,但统计学上无差异（p〉0.05）。结论：大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注后NF-κB和ICAM-1表达增加,NAC可抑制NF-κB激活,减少ICAM-1表达减轻大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注损伤。