Hydrogen-rich saline protects against intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

Hydrogen gas was reported to reduce reactive oxygen species and alleviate cerebral, myocardial and hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injuries. This paper studied the effect of hydrogen-rich saline, which was easier for clinical application, on the intestinal I/R injury. Model of intestinal I/R injury was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Physiological saline, hydrogen-rich saline or nitrogen-rich saline (5 ml/kg) was administered via intravenous infusion at 10 min before reperfusion, respectively. The intestine damage was detected microscopically and was assessed by Chiu score system after I/R injury. In addition, serum DAO activity, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 levels, tissue MDA, protein carbonyl and MPO activity were all increased significantly by I/R injury. Hydrogen-rich saline reduced these markers and relieved morphological intestinal injury, while no significant reduction was observed in the nitrogen-rich saline-treated animals. In conclusion, hydrogen-rich saline protected the small intestine against I/R injury, possibly by reduction of inflammation and oxidative stress.     

Erythropoietin protects the intestine against ischemia/ reperfusion injury in rats

Previous studies have shown that erythropoietin (EPO) has protective effects against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in several tissues. The aim of this study was to determine whether EPO could prevent intestinal tissue injury induced by I/R. Wistar rats were subjected to intestinal ischemia (30 min) and reperfusion (60 min). A single dose of EPO (5000 U/kg) was administered intraperitoneally at two different time points: either at five minutes before the onset of ischemia or at the onset of reperfusion. At the end of the reperfusion period, jejunum was removed for examinations. Myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA), and antioxidant defense system were assessed by biochemical analyses. Histological evaluation was performed according to the Chiu scoring method. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. Apoptotic cells were determined by TUNEL staining. Compared with the sham, I/R caused intestinal tissue injury (Chiu score, 3+/-0.36 vs 0.4+/-0.24, P<0.01) and was accompanied by increases in MDA levels (0.747+/-0.076 vs 0.492+/-0.033, P<0.05), MPO activity (10.51+/-1.87 vs 4.3+/-0.45, P<0.05), intensity of eNOS immunolabelling (3+/-0.4 vs 1.3+/-0.33, P<0.05), the number of TUNEL-positive cells (20.4+/-2.6 vs 4.6+/-1.2, P<0.001), and a decrease in catalase activity (16.83+/-2.6 vs 43.15+/-4.7, P<0.01). Compared with the vehicle-treated I/R, EPO improved tissue injury; decreased the intensity of eNOS immunolabelling (1.6+/-0.24 vs 3+/-0.4, P<0.05), the number of TUNEL-positive cells (9.2+/-2.7 vs 20.4+/-2.6, P<0.01), and the high histological scores (1+/-0.51 vs 3+/-0.36, P<0.01), and increased catalase activity (42.85+/-6 vs 16.83+/-2.6, P<0.01) when given before ischemia, while it was found to have decreased the levels of MDA (0.483+/-0.025 vs 0.747+/-0.076, P<0.05) and MPO activity (3.86+/-0.76 vs 10.51+/-1.87, P<0.05), intensity of eNOS immunolabelling (1.4+/-0.24 vs 3+/-0.4, P<0.01), the number of TUNEL-positive cells (9.1+/-3 vs 20.4+/-2.6, P<0.01), and the number of high histological scores (1.16+/-0.4 vs 3+/-0.36, P<0.05) when given at the onset of reperfusion. These results demonstrate that EPO protects against intestinal I/R injury in rats by reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis. We attributed this beneficial effect to the antioxidative properties of EPO.     

吸入一氧化碳抗肢体缺血/再灌注损伤的实验研究

目的：观察吸入适量一氧化碳（CO）对大鼠肢体缺血/再灌注（I/R）损伤的防治作用。方法：SD大鼠44只,随机分为假手术（S）、I/R、I/R吸入CO（RC）组;通过夹闭股动脉4h、再开放48h,复制肢体I/R损伤模型;RC组行再灌注时,使动物吸入含有CO的医用空气（CO的体积分数为0.05%）,其余两组呼吸正常空气;对比观测缺血肢体大体及骨骼肌组织病理学、缺血肢体湿干重比值（W/D）的变化,流式细胞仪检测肌组织中Bax、Bcl-2的表达水平及细胞凋亡百分比,全自动生化分析仪检测血清乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）和肌酸激酶（CK）的变化。结果：与I/R组比较,RC组动物W/D、血清LDH及CK含量、肌组织中Bax表达水平及细胞凋亡百分比均显著降低,肌组织Bcl-2表达水平显著升高,缺血肢体大体观及肌组织病理学明显改善。结论：吸入适量浓度的外源性CO对肢体I/R损伤有防治作用。     

黑木耳多糖对抗离体心脏缺血/再灌注损伤的研究

目的:探讨黑木耳多糖(AAP)对离体大鼠心脏缺血/再灌注(I/R)损伤的防护作用及其机制。方法:健康雄性SD大鼠灌胃黑木耳多糖(50,100,200mg/(kg.d))4周后,采用离体心脏Langendorff灌流方法,全心停灌30min,复灌120min建立I/R模型。测定左心室动力学指标和再灌注各时间点冠脉流出液中乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)含量;实验结束测定心肌组织甲月赞(formazan)、丙二醛(MDA)含量及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性的变化。结果:与单纯I/R组相比,AAP预处理明显提高心肌细胞的formazan含量,降低再灌注期间冠脉流出液中LDH含量,明显增强左室发展压、左心室内压最大上升速率和心率与发展压乘积的恢复,缓解冠脉流量的减少;高剂量AAP改善I/R心肌功能的作用要好于丹参预处理(4ml/(kg.d),gastricperfusion)组。中剂量AAP(100mg/(kg.d))预处理4周后明显抑制I/R心肌MDA的增加和SOD活性的减弱(P0.01),其效果要好于丹参阳性对照组。结论:在大鼠离体心脏灌流模型上,黑木耳多糖预处理具有抗心脏I/R损伤的作用,这种保护作用可能与其增加心肌SOD活性,减少脂质过氧化损伤有关。     

Enhancing macroautophagy protects against ischemia/reperfusion injury in cardiac myocytes

Cardiac myocytes undergo programmed cell death as a result of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). One feature of I/R injury is the increased presence of autophagosomes. However, to date it is not known whether macroautophagy functions as a protective pathway, contributes to programmed cell death, or is an irrelevant event during cardiac I/R injury. We employed simulated I/R of cardiac HL-1 cells as an in vitro model of I/R injury to the heart. To assess macroautophagy, we quantified autophagosome generation and degradation (autophagic flux), as determined by steady-state levels of autophagosomes in relation to lysosomal inhibitor-mediated accumulation of autophagosomes. We found that I/R impaired both formation and downstream lysosomal degradation of autophagosomes. Overexpression of Beclin1 enhanced autophagic flux following I/R and significantly reduced activation of pro-apoptotic Bax, whereas RNA interference knockdown of Beclin1 increased Bax activation. Bcl-2 and Bcl-x(L) were protective against I/R injury, and expression of a Beclin1 Bcl-2/-x(L) binding domain mutant resulted in decreased autophagic flux and did not protect against I/R injury. Overexpression of Atg5, a component of the autophagosomal machinery downstream of Beclin1, did not affect cellular injury, whereas expression of a dominant negative mutant of Atg5 increased cellular injury. These results demonstrate that autophagic flux is impaired at the level of both induction and degradation and that enhancing autophagy constitutes a powerful and previously uncharacterized protective mechanism against I/R injury to the heart cell.     

Selenium protects the immature rat heart against ischemia/reperfusion injury

The aim of the study was to find out whether administration of selenium (Se) will protect the immature heart against ischemia/reperfusion. The control pregnant rats were fed laboratory diet (0.237 mg Se/kg diet); experimental rats received 2 ppm Na₂SeO₃ in the drinking water from the first day of pregnancy until day 10 post partum. The concentration of Se in the serum and heart tissue was determined by activation analysis, the serum concentration of NO by chemiluminescence, cardiac concentration of lipofuscin-like pigment by fluorescence analysis. The 10 day-old hearts were perfused (Langendorff); recovery of developed force (DF) was measured after 40 min of global ischemia. In acute experiments, 10 day-old hearts were perfused with selenium (75 nmol/l) before or after global ischemia. Sensitivity to isoproterenol (ISO, pD₅₀) was assessed as a response of DF to increasing cumulative dose. Se supplementation elevated serum concentration of Se by 16%. Se increased ischemic tolerance (recovery of DF, 32.28 ± 2.37 vs. 41.82 ± 2.91%, P < 0.05). Similar results were obtained after acute administration of Se during post-ischemic reperfusion (32.28 ± 2.37 vs. 49.73 ± 4.40%, P < 0.01). The pre-ischemic treatment, however, attenuated the recovery (23.08 ± 3.04 vs. 32.28 ± 2.37%, P < 0.05). Moreover, Se supplementation increased the sensitivity to the inotropic effect of ISO, decreased cardiac concentration of lipofuscin-like pigment and serum concentration of NO. Our results suggest that Se protects the immature heart against ischemia/reperfusion injury. It seems therefore, that ROS may affect the function of the neonatal heart, similarly as in adults.     

Bcl-xL gene transfer protects the heart against ischemia/reperfusion injury

Ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury causes the progression of cardiac dysfunction. The prevention of cardiomyocyte-loss due to I/R injury is important for the treatment of heart failure. Therefore, we employed antiapoptotic Bcl-xL protein to prevent I/R injury in the heart and evaluated the cardioprotective effect of Bcl-xL transduction by adenoviral vector (Adv) after I/R injury. Adv with Bcl-xL gene was injected in the rat heart 4 days prior to I/R. The prevention of cardiac performance-loss and the reduction of cardiac apoptosis, after 30min ischemia and 30min reperfusion of global I/R, were demonstrated in the heart with adenoviral Bcl-xL transduction. Also, significant reductions of the infarct size and serum creatine kinase levels were observed in the heart transduced with Bcl-xL gene compared with control after 30min ischemia and 24h reperfusion of the left anterior coronary artery. Thus, Bcl-xL may serve as a potential therapeutic tool for cardioprotection.     

Apolipoprotein A-I attenuates renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I), the major protein component of serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL), exhibits its anti-inflammatory activity in inflammatory responses. As renal inflammation plays an important role in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury of the kidney, the aim of this study was to investigate the beneficial effect of ApoA-I on renal I/R injury in rats and the underlined mechanism. Using rats subjected to renal I/R by occlusion of bilateral renal pedicles, we found that administration of ApoA-I significantly reduced serum creatinine levels, serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels as well as tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, compared with I/R controls. Moreover, ApoA-I treatment suppresses the expression of intercellular adhesion molecules-1 (ICAM-1) and P-selectin on endothelium, thus diminishing neutrophil adherence and the subsequent tissue injury. These results showed that ApoA-I reduced I/R-induced inflammatory responses, decreased renal microscopic damage and improved renal function. It seems likely that ApoA-I protects kidney from I/R injury by inhibiting inflammatory cytokines release and neutrophil infiltration and activation.     

吸入一氧化碳防治肢体缺血／再灌注所致肝脏损伤的实验研究

目的：观察吸入外源性一氧化碳（CO）对肢体缺血／再灌注（I／R）所致肝脏损伤的防治作用。方法：健康SD大鼠100只,随机分为假手术（S）、假手术吸入CO（SC）、I／R、I／R吸入CO（RC）组。通过夹闭股动脉4h、再开放6—72h、10d复制肢体L／R致肝脏损伤模型。S、I／R组吸入普通医用空气,SC、RC组吸入含CO（体积分数为0．05％）的医用空气。光镜观察肝组织病理学变化,全自动生化分析仪检测血谷丙转氨酶（GPT）,流式细胞仪检测肝细胞凋亡百分比及bax、bcl-2的表达水平。结果：S组与SC组比较,各项观察指标无显著差别;与SC组比较,I/R及RC组肝组织呈病理改变,血清GPT及肝细胞凋亡百分比明显升高;I／R组肝细胞bax蛋白的表达水平明显升高。和L／R组相比。RC组肝组织损伤程度减轻,血清GPT、肝细胞凋亡百分比及bax蛋白的表达水平明显降低,而肝细胞bcl-2蛋白的表达水平显著升高。结论：吸入适量外源性CO对肢体I／R所致肝脏损伤有防治效应。     

Tempol protects the gallbladder against ischemia/reperfusion

Impairment in gallbladder emptying, increase in residual volume, and reduced smooth muscle contractility are hallmarks of acute acalculous cholecystitis and seem to be related to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). This study was designed to determine the effects of tempol, a general antioxidant, on I/R-induced changes in gallbladder contractile capacity, the mechanisms involved in the contractile process, and the level of inflammatory mediators. Experimental gallbladder I/R was induced in male guinea pigs by common bile duct ligation for 2 days, then a deligation of the duct was performed and after 2 days the animals were sacrificed. A group of animals was treated with tempol, administered in the drinking water at 1 mmol/l for 10 days prior the bile duct ligation and until animal sacrifice. Isometric tension recordings showed that KCl and cholecystokinin-induced contractions were impaired by I/R, which correlated with decreased F-actin content and detrimental effects on Ca²⁺ influx. In addition, I/R depolarized mitochondrial membrane potential, as indicated by the reduction of the heterogeneity of the rhodamine123 fluorescence signal, and increased the expression of NF-κB, COX-2, and iNOS. Tempol treatment improved contractility via normalization of Ca²⁺ handling and improvement of F-actin content. Moreover, the antioxidant ameliorated mitochondrial polarity and normalized the expression levels of the inflammatory mediators. These results show that antioxidant treatment protects the gallbladder from I/R, indicating the potential therapeutic benefits of tempol in I/R injury.     

Propofol protects the autophagic cell death induced by the ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

Autophagy has been implicated in cardiac cell death during ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). In this study we investigated how propofol, an antioxidant widely used for anesthesia, affects the autophagic cell death induced by the myocardial I/R injury. The infarction size in the myocardium was dramatically reduced in rats treated with propofol during I/R compared with untreated rats. A large number of autophagic vacuoles were observed in the cardiomyocytes of I/R-injured rats but rarely in I/R-injured rats treated with propofol. While LC3-II formation, an autophagy marker, was up-regulated in the I/R-injured myocardium, it was significantly down-regulated in the myocardial tissues of I/R-injured and propofol-treated rats. Moreover, propofol inhibited the I/R-induced expression of Beclin-1, and it accelerated phosphorylation of mTOR during I/R and Beclin-1/Bcl-2 interaction in cells, which indicates that it facilitates the inhibitory pathway of autophagy. These data suggest that propofol protects the autophagic cell death induced by the myocardial I/R injury.     

The protective effect of oxytocin on renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

AIM: Oxytocin was previously shown to have anti-inflammatory effects in different inflammation models. The major objective of the present study was to evaluate the protective role of oxytocin (OT) in protecting the kidney against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar albino rats (250-300 g) were unilaterally nephrectomized, and subjected to 45 min of renal pedicle occlusion followed by 6 h of reperfusion. OT (1 mg/kg, ip) or vehicle was administered 15 min prior to ischemia and was repeated immediately before the reperfusion period. At the end of the reperfusion period, rats were decapitated and kidney samples were taken for histological examination or determination of malondialdehyde (MDA), an end product of lipid peroxidation; glutathione (GSH), a key antioxidant; and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, an index of tissue neutrophil infiltration. Creatinine and urea concentrations in blood were measured for the evaluation of renal function, while TNF-alpha and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were determined to evaluate generalized tissue damage. Formation of reactive oxygen species in renal tissue samples was monitored by chemiluminescence technique using luminol and lucigenin probes. RESULTS: The results revealed that I/R injury increased (p<0.01-0.001) serum urea, creatinine, TNF-alpha and LDH levels, as well as MDA, MPO and reactive oxygen radical levels in the renal tissue, while decreasing renal GSH content. However, alterations in these biochemical and histopathological indices due to I/R injury were attenuated by OT treatment (p<0.05-0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Since OT administration improved renal function and microscopic damage, along with the alleviation of oxidant tissue responses, it appears that oxytocin protects renal tissue against I/R-induced oxidative damage.     

Protective effect of a polysaccharide from stem of Codonopsis pilosula against renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

In this study, we purified a homogeneous polysaccharide (S-CPPA1) with a molecular weight (Mw) of 133.2kDa from the stem of Codonopsis pilosula for the first time. Gas chromatography (GC) analysis identified that S-CPPA1 contained glucose, galactose, and arabinose with a molar ratio of 10.5:3.4:1.7, along with a trace of mannose. Methylation analysis suggested S-CPPA1 was a branched polysaccharide, with five glucosidic linkage forms, namely (1→4)-linked Glcp (residue A), (1→6)-linked Galp (residue B), (1→2,6)-linked Glcp (residue C), (1→5)-linked Araf (residue D), and non-reducing terminal (1→)-linked Glcp (residue E). The protective effect of S-CPPA1 on kidney ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury was also evaluated. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and TNF-α levels, as well as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alanine transaminase (AST) activities were elevated in the I/R group as compared to the sham group. On the other hand, S-CPPA1 treatment reversed all these biochemical indices, as well as histopathological alterations, which were induced by I/R. The findings imply that S-CPPA1 plays a causal role in the protection against I/R-induced renal injury and its renoprotective effect is probably mediated by inhibiting the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α release.     

Therapeutic efficacy of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells transplantation against renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical problem raising the urgent needs to develop new strategies for treatment. The present study investigated the therapeutic potential of human umbilical cord – mesenchymal stem cells (HUC-MSCs) transplantation against renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) in rats.

Participation of autophagy in renal ischemia/reperfusion injury

Renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is inevitable in transplantation, and it results in renal tubular epithelial cells undergoing cell death. We observed an increase in autophagosomes in the tubular epithelial cells of I/R-injured mouse models, and in biopsy specimens from human transplanted kidney. However, it remains unclear whether autophagy functions as a protective pathway, or contributes to I/R-induced cell death. Here, we employed the human renal proximal tubular epithelial cell line HK-2 in order to explore the role of autophagy under hypoxia (1% O₂) or activation of reactive oxygen species (500 μM H₂O₂). When compared to normoxic conditions, 48 h of hypoxia slightly increased LC3-labeled autophagic vacuoles and markedly increased LAMP2-labeled lysosomes. We observed similar changes in the mouse IR-injury model. We then assessed autophagic generation and degradation by inhibiting the downstream lysosomal degradation of autophagic vacuoles using lysosomal protease inhibitor. We found that autophagosomes increased markedly under hypoxia in the presence of lysosomal protease inhibitors, thus suggesting that hypoxia induces high turnover of autophagic generation and degradation. Furthermore, inhibition of autophagy significantly inhibited H₂O₂-induced cell death. In conclusion, high turnover of autophagy may lead to autophagic cell death during I/R injury.     

Enhancing AMPK activation during ischemia protects the diabetic heart against reperfusion injury

AMPK activation during ischemia helps the myocardium to cope with the deficit of energy production. As AMPK activity is considered to be impaired in diabetes, we hypothesized that enhancing AMPK activation during ischemia above physiological levels would protect the ischemic diabetic heart through AMPK activation and subsequent inhibition of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening. Isolated perfused hearts from normoglycemic Wistar or diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats (n ≥ 6/group) were subjected to 35 min of ischemia in the presence of 10, 20, and 40 μM of A-769662, a known activator of AMPK, followed by 120 min of reperfusion with normal buffer. Myocardial infarction and AMPK phosphorylation were assessed. The effect of A-769662 on mPTP opening in adult cardiomyocytes isolated from both strains was also determined. A-769662 at 20 μM reduced infarct size in both Wistar (30.5 ± 2.7 vs. 51.8 ± 3.9% vehicle; P < 0.001) and GK hearts (22.7 ± 3.0 vs. 48.5 ± 4.7% vehicle; P < 0.001). This protection was accompanied by a significant increase in AMPK and GSK-3β phosphorylation. In addition, A-769662 significantly inhibited mPTP opening in both Wistar and GK cardiomyocytes subjected to oxidative stress. We demonstrate that AMPK activation during ischemia via A-769662 reduces myocardial infarct size in both the nondiabetic and diabetic rat heart. Furthermore, this cardioprotective effect appears to be mediated through inhibition of mPTP opening. Our findings suggest that improving AMPK activation during ischemia can be another mechanism for protecting the ischemic heart.     

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.     

N-乙酰-L-半胱氨酸减轻大鼠胃缺血/再灌注损伤的机制

为研究N-乙酰-L-半胱氨酸(N-acetylcysteine,NAC)减轻大鼠胃缺血/再灌注(gastric ischemia/reperfusion,GI/R)损伤的机制,在大鼠股静脉注射NAC(150mg/kg),夹闭大鼠腹腔动脉30min,再灌注1h制备GI/R模型。取胃后计数胃黏膜损伤指数(gastric mucosal damage index,GMDI),用原位检测(TUNEL)法观察胃黏膜细胞的凋亡,用免疫印迹法测定胃黏膜组织中p-ERK,p-JNK和NF-κB的表达,用RT-PCR法检测TNF-α,Caspase-3的mRNA表达。结果显示,NAC可以减轻GI/R损伤大鼠胃黏膜细胞的凋亡;促进大鼠I/R损伤的胃黏膜组织中p-ERK蛋白的表达,抑制p-JNK和NF-κB的蛋白表达,同时也抑制TNF-α mRNA和Caspase-3 mRNA的表达。股静脉给予辣椒素受体(vanilloid receptor subtype1,VR1)拮抗剂(capsaizepin,CPZ)400mg/kg,能逆转NAC对大鼠GI/R损伤的保护作用。以上结果提示:NAC对大鼠GI/R损伤具有减轻作用,其保护机制可能是通过上调胃黏膜组织中p-ERK,下调p-JNK和NF-κB实现的,且这种保护作用可能与VR1有关。