Myocardial prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 synthetase activities during ischemia and reperfusion in isolated rabbit heart

The aim of the study was to determine the prostacyclin (PGI2) and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) synthetase activities of myocardial tissue and their variation during ischemia and reperfusion. Regional ischemia was induced by 10 min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery in isolated Langendorff rabbit hearts. Biosynthesis of PGI2 and TXA2 were carried out by using arachidonic acid as substrate and left ventricle microsomes (LVM) from ischemic and non-ischemic areas as sources of PGI2 and TXA2 synthetase. 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TXB2, stable metabolites of PGI2 and TXA2 respectively, were determined by radioimmunoassay. Experiments carried out under the adopted conditions showed that LVM were able to synthetise PGI2 as well as TXA2 from arachidonic acid. On the other hand, ischemia depressed both PGI2 and TXA2 synthetase activities of cardiac tissue: the depression was more pronounced on TXA2 synthetase than on PGI2 synthetase with no significant difference between ischemic and non-ischemic regions. Moreover, ischemia increased the ratio 6-keto-PGF1 alpha/TXB2 indicating therefore that it can facilitate the formation of PGI2. The post ischemic reperfusion of the heart counteracted the decrease in PGI2 synthetase induced by ischemia which returned to the normal level: reperfusion also slightly reversed the decrease in TXA2 the decrease in TXA2 synthetase. However, the diminution in TXA2 synthetase of non-ischemic myocardium was attenuated but it remained lower than the normal level. These results suggested that the whole left ventricle is affected by regional ischemia. Furthermore it appears that myocardial TXA2 synthetase is more vulnerable than PGI2 synthetase to a lack of oxygen and nutrients.     

Myocardial prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 synthetase activities during ischemia and reperfusion in isolated rabbit heart

The aim of the study was to determine the prostacyclin (PGI₂) and thromboxane A₂ (TXA₂) synthetase activities of myocardial tissue and their variation during ischemia and reperfusion. Regional ischemia was induced by 10 min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery in isolated Langendorff rabbit hearts. Biosynthesis of PGI₂ and TXA₂ were carried out by using arachidonic acid as substrate and left ventricle microsomes (LVM) from ischemic and non-ischemic areas as sources of PGI₂ and TXA₂ synthetase. 6-keto-PGF_1α and TXB₂, stable metabolites of PGI₂ and TXA₂ respectively, were determined by radioimmunoassay. Experiments carried out under the adopted conditions showed that LVM were able to synthetise PGI₂ as well as TXA₂ from arachidonic acid. On the other hand, ischemia depressed both PGI₂ and TXA₂ synthetase activities of cardiac tissue: the depression was more pronounced on TXA₂ synthetase than on PGI₂ synthetase with no significant difference between ischemic and non-ischemic regions. Moreover, ischemia increased the ratio indicating therefore that it can facilitate the formation of PGI₂. The post ischemic reperfusion of the heart counteracted the decrease in PGI₂ synthetase induced by ischemia which returned to the normal level: reperfusion also slightly reversed the decrease in TXA₂ synthetase. However, the diminution in TXA₂ synthetase of non-ischemic myocardium was attenuated but it remained lower than the normal level. These results suggested that the whole left ventricle is affected by regional ischemia. Furthermore it appears that myocardial TXA₂ synthetase is more vulnerable than PGI₂ synthetase to a lack of oxygen and nutrients.     

Ultrastructural changes of sarcolemma and mitochondria in the isolated rabbit heart during ischemia and reperfusion

Isolated rabbit hearts were perfused by the Langendorff technique, made ischemic and subsequently reperfused. It was found that ischemia results in: (i) aggregation of the intramembranous particles in the sarcolemma and (ii) extrusion of pure lipidic multilamellar structures (liposomes) from swollen mitochondria. Subsequent reperfusion resulted in further aggregation of the sarcolemmal intramembranous particles and disruption of the sarcolemma, which was attended by the formation of liposome-like structures. Intramembrane particle aggregation is explained in terms of lateral phase separation of the membrane lipids and a reduction of repulsive forces between the membrane proteins, both induced by a decrease in pH and an increase in Ca2+ concentration intracellularly. The formation and extrusion of the multilamellar structures are discussed in terms of destabilization of the bilayer which results in a structural blebbing-off of pure lipid.     

Acid hydrolase activity and cyclic nucleotide contents in the rat heart during myocardial ischemia and postischemic reperfusion

The acid phosphatase and cathepsin D activities and cAMP and cGMP levels in isolated perfused rat heart were investigated during various periods of ischaemic myocardial injury and postischaemic reperfusion. The effect of phosphodiesterase inhibitor--caffeine was also studied. Free acid hydrolases activities and cyclic nucleotide content were increased under 40 and 60 min ischemia and 20 min postischaemic reperfusion. Addition of 50 microM caffeine to perfusion solution after 30 min of ischaemia resulted in increase of cAMP level, cAMP/cGMP ratio, lysosomal bound activities of acid hydrolase and decrease of free acid hydrolase activities. The obtained results suggested that defect in cAMP synthesis might be present in lysosomal membranes labilization in cardiomyocytes injured during ischaemic conditions. Addition of such agents, as caffeine, which increased heart cAMP level, may be effective in lysosomal membranes stabilization under reversible heart ischaemia and reperfusion.     

A selective inhibitor of thromboxane synthetase activity of rabbit heart tissue: a pyridazinic derivative

The effects of 2-(2 dimethylaminoethyl) 5-benzylidene 6-methyl (2H,4H)-3-pyridazinone (III) were studied on the biosynthesis of TXA2 and PGI2 in vitro the TXA2 and PGI2 synthetase activity of heart tissue. Biosyntheses of TXA2 and PGI2 were carried out using arachidonic acid as a substrate and horse platelet and aorta microsomes as sources of TXA2 and PGI2 synthetases respectively. TXB2 and 6-keto PGF1 alpha were determined by RIA. III--did not significantly modify either the biosynthesis of PGI2 in vitro or the PGI2 synthetase activity of heart tissue. did not significantly inhibit TXA2 biosynthesis in vitro but markedly reduced the TXA2 synthetase activity of heart tissue: for a microsomal fraction concentration of 100 micrograms protein, the ID50 was 6.37 X 10(-5) M +/- 1.29 X 10(-8) M. Thus III behaves as a specific inhibitor of the TXA2 synthetase activity of heart tissue and could have a beneficial use in therapeutics.     

An assessment of anaerobic metabolism during ischemia and reperfusion in isolated guinea pig heart

The effects of total ischemia and subsequent reperfusion on the formation of anaerobic metabolism products and their release into myocardial effluent were studied in isolated guinea pig hearts. During 30-min ischemia myocardial ATP and phosphocreatine decreased to 34 and 15% of the initial levels, respectively; this was accompanied by alanine formation and approximately stoichiometric glutamate loss. The increase in malate in ischemic myocardium corresponded to the anaplerotic flux aspartate----oxaloacetate----malate; the succinate production being commensurable to alpha-ketoglutarate formation in the alanine aminotransferase reaction. The release of lactate, alanine, succinate, creatine and pyruvate trace amounts into the myocardial effluent was observed during an early phase of the reperfusion using 1H-NMR. The rates of metabolite release reduced as follows: lactate much greater than alanine greater than succinate greater than creatine. By the 30th min of the reperfusion the decrease in these metabolites tissue contents was accompanied by the recovery of ATP and phosphocreatine levels up to 65 and 90% of the initial ones, respectively. The data obtained demonstrate that the formation and the release of succinate, alanine and creatine from the heart as well as of lactate may indicate profound disturbances in energy metabolism.     

葛根素对离体大鼠缺血/复灌心脏的保护作用及其作用机制

目的：探讨葛根素（puerarin,Pue）预处理抗心肌缺血／复灌（ischemia／reperfusion,I／R）损伤是否与线粒体渗透性转换孔和／或线粒体ATP敏感性钾通道有关。方法：采用离体大鼠心脏Leangendorff灌流方法,全心停灌30min,复灌120min复制I／R模型。测定心室力学指标和复灌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formazan量的变化。结果：与单纯I／R组相比,Pue（0．24mmol／L,5min）预处理明显提高心肌细胞的formazan含量,降低复灌期间冠脉流出液中LDH含量,明显促进左室发展压、左心室内压最大上升和下降速率、心率与发展压乘积和左室舒张末压力的恢复,缓解冠脉流量的减少。线粒体渗透性转换孔开放剂苍术苷（20μmol／L。复灌前给药20min）和线粒体ATP敏感性钾通道抑制剂5-羟基癸酸（100μmol／L,缺血前给药20min）能明显减弱Pue的保护作用。结论：在大鼠离体心脏灌流模型上,Pue预处理具有抗心脏缺血／复灌损伤的作用,这种保护作用可能与其抑制线粒体渗透性转换孔的开放和促进线粒体ATP敏感性钾通道的开放有关。     

Plasma endothelin levels during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion

Endothelin, an endothelium-derived vasoconstrictive peptide, has a strong potency of coronary artery constriction. However, the role of endogeneous endothelin under pathophysiological conditions has not yet been known. In this study, we examined plasma endothelin concentration in dogs with myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. Anesthetized open-chest dogs underwent either 45 minutes occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery followed by 3 hours reperfusion, or 4-10 hours of continuous occlusion. Plasma concentration of endothelin from the central vein was measured by the highly sensitive enzyme-immunoassay. Plasma endothelin concentration increased 2.2-fold with the peak level at 60 minutes after release of the ligated artery, but occlusion per se caused no remarkable change. These data suggest that reperfusion of the occluded artery might be needed to increase the plasma concentration of endothelin in case of myocardial infarction.     

Antioxidant vitamin levels and glutathione peroxidase activity during ischemia/reperfusion in myocardial infarction

The consequences of increased oxidative stress, measured as the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) during ischemia/reperfusion, were studied in 48 patients in the acute phase of myocardial infarction (AMI) and a control group (21 blood donors). The serum levels of alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene were followed. Immediately after the treatment onset the level of alpha-tocopherol started to decrease, reaching a plateau after 24 h. The consumption of beta-carotene was delayed by 90 min. Steady decline was detected during the whole time interval studied (48 h). Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, as a representative of antioxidant enzymes, was estimated in whole blood. The influx of oxygenated blood was accompanied by a stimulation of GPx activity, which reached its maximum at the time of completed reperfusion. When comparing the AMI patients with the control group, the levels of MDA were found significantly increased, which indicates that oxidative stress is already increased during ischemia. Lower antioxidant levels found in the patients might either already be the result of vitamin consumption during ischemia or be a manifestation of their susceptibility to AMI. Monitored consumption of alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene during reperfusion indicated that in the case of patients, whose level of antioxidant vitamins is below the threshold limit, a further substantial decrease of antioxidant vitamins during reperfusion could enhance the oxidative damage of the myocardium.     

Dinitrosyl iron complexes with glutathione in rat myocardial tissue during regional ischemia and postischemic reperfusion

Injection of dinitrosyl iron complexes with glutathione at the onset of 40-min regional myocardial ischemia in rat was shown to exert a clear cardioprotective action by decreasing the infarct size and suppressing the cardiac rhythm disturbance. After introducing the preparation, its effective accumulation with protein thiol-containing ligands in the myocardial tissue was registered be the EPR method. It was also found that in postischemic reperfusion, the rate of decrease in the content of these complexes in the ischemic area increases, which reflects effective scavenging of short-lived reactive oxygen species by the dinitrosyl iron complexes.     

Effect of ischemia and reperfusion on protein oxidation in isolated rabbit hearts

Reactive oxygen species and other oxidants are involved in the mechanism of postischemic contractile dysfunction, known as myocardial stunning. The present study investigated the oxidative modification of cardiac proteins in isolated Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts subjected to 15 min normothermic ischemia followed by 10 min reperfusion. Reperfusion under these conditions resulted in only 61.8+/-2.7 % recovery of developed pressure relative to preischemic values and this mechanical dysfunction was accompanied by oxidative damage to cardiac proteins. The total sulfhydryl group content was significantly reduced in both ventricle homogenates and mitochondria isolated from stunned hearts. Fluorescence measurements revealed enhanced formation of bityrosines and conjugates of lipid peroxidation-end products with proteins in cardiac homogenates, whereas these parameters were unchanged in the mitochondrial fraction. Reperfusion did not alter protein surface hydrophobicity, as detected by a fluorescent probe 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate. Our results indicate that oxidation of proteins in mitochondria and possibly in other intracellular structures occurs during cardiac reperfusion and might contribute to ischemia-reperfusion injury.     

The role of NO in ischemia/reperfusion injury in isolated rat heart

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important regulator of myocardial function and vascular tone under physiological conditions. However, its role in the pathological situations, such as myocardial ischemia is not unequivocal, and both positive and negative effects have been demonstrated in different experimental settings including human pathology. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of NO in the rat hearts adapted and non-adapted to ischemia. Isolated Langendorff-perfused hearts were subjected to test ischemic (TI) challenge induced by 25 min global ischemia followed by 35 min reperfusion. Short-term adaptation to ischemia (ischemic preconditioning, IP) was evoked by 2 cycles of 5 min ischemia and 5 min reperfusion, before TI. Recovery of function at the end of reperfusion and reperfusion-induced arrhythmias served as the end-points of injury. Coronary flow (CF), left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), and dP/dt(max) (index of contraction) were measured at the end of stabilization and throughout the remainder of the protocol until the end of reperfusion. The role of NO was investigated by subjecting the hearts to 15 min perfusion with NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor L-NAME (100 mmol/l), prior to sustained ischemia. At the end of reperfusion, LVDP in the controls recovered to 29.0 +/- 3.9 % of baseline value, whereas preconditioned hearts showed a significantly increased recovery (LVDP 66.4 +/- 5.7 %, p < 0.05). Recovery of both CF and dP/dt(max) after TI was also significantly higher in the adapted hearts (101.5 +/- 5.8 % and 83.64 +/- 3.92 % ) as compared with the controls (71.9 +/- 6.3 % and 35.7 +/- 4.87 %, respectively, p < 0.05). NOS inhibition improved contractile recovery in the non-adapted group (LVDP 53.8 +/- 3.1 %; dP/dt(max) 67.5 +/- 5.92 %) and increased CF to 82.4 +/- 5.2 %. In contrast, in the adapted group, it abolished the protective effect of IP (LVDP 31.8 +/- 3.1 %; CF 70.3 +/- 3.4 % and dP/dt(max) 43.25 +/- 2.19 %). Control group exhibited 100 % occurrence of ventricular tachycardia (VT), 57 % incidence of ventricular fibrillation (VF) - 21 % of them was sustained VF (SVF); application of L-NAME attenuated reperfusion arrhythmias (VT 70 %, VF 20 %, SVF 0 %). Adaptation by IP also reduced arrhythmias, however, L-NAME in the preconditioned hearts increased the incidence of arrhythmias (VT 100 %, VF 58 %, SVF 17 %). In conclusion: our results indicate that administration of L-NAME might be cardioprotective in the normal hearts exposed to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) alone, suggesting that NO contributes to low ischemic tolerance in the non-adapted hearts. On the other hand, blockade of cardioprotective effect of IP by L-NAME points out to a dual role of NO in the heart: a negative role in the non-adapted myocardium subjected to I/R, and a positive one, due to its involvement in the mechanisms of protection triggered by short-term cardiac adaptation by preconditioning.     

Creatine kinase of heart mitochondria. The progressive loss of enzyme activity during in vivo ischemia and its correlation to depressed myocardial function

It is now appreciated that mitochondrial creatine kinase (CKm) may play an important role in heart high-energy phosphate metabolism and that this isozyme is solubilized in vitro by dilute solutions of Pi. Since an increase in cellular Pi is known to occur with even brief periods of myocardial ischemia, we investigated the relationship between CKm activity and myocardial performance in rabbit hearts subjected to total global ischemia. CKm activity is expressed as a ratio to mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase (MDHm), a stable marker enzyme. A significant decline in this ratio was observed after only 10 min of ischemia, a time prior to changes in total homogenate creatine kinase activity. After 60 min of ischemia, the CKm/MDHm ratio was depressed by more than 70%. Since there was no restoration of activity following 30 min of reperfusion, we correlated changes in enzyme activity to contractile dysfunction following variable periods of total ischemia. The data showed a close correlation between the decline in the CKm/MDHm ratio and the reduction in performance, measured as left ventricular developed pressure. No correlation was observed between State 3 respiratory rates and performance. Using KCl arrest at 27 degrees C or hyperthermic ischemia at 40 degrees C, the CKm/MDHm ratio consistently correlated to the degree of postischemic functional depression, independent of the duration of ischemia. Isoenzyme electrophoresis failed to detect soluble CKm activity in the postischemic supernatant. Therefore, CKm activity appears to be altered rapidly and irreversibly by ischemia. The implications of these observations on the integration of myocardial high-energy phosphate metabolism are discussed.     

下肢骨骼肌缺血后处理对兔缺血/再灌注心肌坏死和凋亡的影响

目的:探讨在体情况下,骨骼肌缺血后处理对兔缺血/再灌注心肌坏死和凋亡的影响。方法:新西兰大白兔36只,随机分成3组(每组随机选取6只进行梗死范围的测定,另外6只进行凋亡测定):①假手术组(Sham组);②缺血/再灌注组(I/R组);③远端后处理组(RPostC组)。在缺血前、后及再灌注60 min、120 min分别抽血测定肌酸激酶(CK),乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)的活性。采用伊文思兰(evans blue)和三苯基氯化四氮唑(TTC)染色方法确定心肌缺血区范围以及心肌坏死区范围。用Tunel法检测兔心肌缺血区细胞凋亡情况,免疫组织化学方法检测心肌缺血区蛋白caspase-3、Bcl-2及Bax的表达。结果:RPostC组心肌坏死程度、再灌注末CK活性较I/R组明显减低。RPostC组缺血区心肌Tunel阳性指数显著低于I/R组(21.79%±1.07%vs35.81%±1.10%,P<0.05)。而RPostC组缺血区心肌细胞caspase-3阳性指数显著低于I/R组(25.03%±1.16%vs39%±2.43%,P<0.05)。与Sham组比较,I/R组及RPostC组Bax蛋白表达指数、Bcl-2蛋白表达指数均升高;但RPostC组的Bax/Bcl-2比值降低,而I/R组的Bax/Bcl-2比值升高。与I/R组相比较,RPostC组Bax蛋白表达指数及Bax/Bcl-2比值显著降低,Bcl-2表达指数显著升高,差异均有统计学意义。结论:远端后处理能够明显的减少缺血/再灌注心肌细胞的坏死和凋亡,其减轻心肌细胞凋亡的机制可能与抑制促凋亡基因caspase-3的活化及Bcl-2表达的上调有关。     

缺血预处理对缺血/再灌注离体心脏的保护作用

目的：探讨连续多次短暂缺血预处理对缺血/再灌注损伤心肌的保护作用及机制。方法：采用大鼠离体心脏Lan-gendorff灌流模型,观察缺血预处理对心肌缺血/再灌注后不同时间点冠脉流出液中AST、CPK、UDH及冠脉流量,心肌组织中SOD、LPO以及再灌注性心律失常的影响。结果：缺血预处理可以减少缺血/再灌注损伤的心肌冠脉流出液中AST、CPK、LDH的含量,提高心肌SOD活性,降低LPO水平,并且抑制再灌注性心律失常的发生,提高再灌注期间的冠脉流量。结论：缺血预处理对心肌缺血/再灌注损伤具有一定保护作用。     

一氧化氮在心肌缺血再灌注损伤中的作用

目的：观察一氧化氮（NO）对相对缺血再灌注心肌损伤的保护作用。方法：高频弱电流刺激法建立离体心肌相对缺血再灌注模型,设非缺血组和相对缺血组,相对缺血组包括对照、L－精氨酸（L－ARG）、硝基－L－精氨酸甲酯（L－NAME）三组。测定缺血前和再灌注时心功能变化、NO含量和乳酸脱氢酶同工酶－1（LD－1）活性。结果：L－ARG可明显促进再灌注期间NO合成,抑制D－1活性升高。再灌注40min时,L－ARG组心肌功能恢复程度明显高于对照组和L－NAME组（P＜0.05）,L－NAME使心肌NO含量降低（P＜0.05）,LD－1活性升高（P＜0.05）,心功能恢复程度最低。结论：NO可明显减轻心肌缺血再灌注时的细胞损伤,促进心功能的恢复。     

Cardiac outflow of amino acids and purines during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.

A novel application of microdialysis was studied, in which myocardial outflow of amino acids and purines was monitored by intravasal microdialysis in the myocardial venous outflow during ischemia and reperfusion. Microdialysis catheters were introduced into the great cardiac vein, pulmonary artery, and external jugular vein in 20 anesthetized pigs. The left anterior descending artery was occluded in four groups of pigs for 0, 10, 15, and 60 min. Ischemia was followed by 120 min of reperfusion. Microdialysis samples were analyzed for taurine, aspartate, glutamate, hypoxanthine, inosine, and guanosine. Myocardial infarction developed when ischemia exceeded 10 min. Taurine, aspartate, inosine, and guanosine increased early in the great cardiac vein during ischemia. We found the outflow patterns of amino acids and purines to be graded in response to different lengths of ischemia. In this study we have demonstrated a graded outflow of amino acids and purines in response to ischemia and a positive correlation between infarct size and myocardial outflow of amino acids and purines. This could be of value in a clinical setting to quantify the extent of myocardial damage.     

Dinitrosyl complexes of iron with glutathione in the rat myocardial tissue during regional ischemia and postischemic reperfusion

The injection of dinitrosyliron iron complexes with glutathione at the onset of 40-min rat regional myocardial ischemia was shown to exert a clear cardioprotective action by decreasing the infarct size and suppressing the cardiac rhythm disturbance. After the introduction of the preparation, its effective accumulation with protein thiol-containing ligands in the myocardial tissue was registered be the EPR method. It was also found that, as a result of postischemic reperfusion, the rate of the decrease in the content of these complexes in the ischemic area increases, which demonstrates the effective scavenging of short-lived reactive oxygen species by molecules of dinitrosyl iron complexes.     

Effects of adaptation to periodic hypoxia on bioelectric activity of cardiomyocytes of isolated heart in ischemia and reperfusion

Experiments on isolated Wistar rat heart perfused according to Langendorff showed that preliminary adaptation of rats to intermittent hypobaric hypoxia limited the fall of values of the resting potential and the amplitude and duration of action potential characteristic for ischemia. Under similar conditions, adaptation considerably reduced the increased time of impulse conduction along the myocardium. In reperfusion, the parameters enumerated restored much more efficiently in hearts from adapted animals than in controls. The role of these changes in the antiarrhythmic effect of adaptation to intermittent hypoxia is under discussion.