Intravenous administration of vascular endothelial growth factor improves cardiac performance and inhibits cardiomyocyte apoptosis

This study investigated the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) intravenous administration on cardiac performance and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in a rat model of acute myocardial infarction. Left coronary artery ligation produced extensive myocardial infarction in 48 rats and sham operated in 24 animals. Twenty-four hours after surgery, the rats were randomized to receive VEGF₁₆₅–heparin (treated group) or heparin–saline (control group) treatment. The sham-operated animals were also to receive VEGF₁₆₅–heparin (sham group) treatment. VEGF₁₆₅ (2 μg/ml) with heparin (50 U) or heparin–saline (50 U/ml) was administered daily via the tail vein for 7 and 14 days. Fifty-eight rats survived and included in the study. There were not significant effects of VEGF on hemodynamic parameters in sham animals. As compared with control animals at 9 days after ligation (with 10 rats for each group), rats treated with VEGF had significantly higher maximum rate of left ventricular pressure rise (+dP/dt_max) or fall ( ? dP/dt_max) and microvessel counts, and significantly lower left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and infarct size. At 16 days after surgery (12, 7 and 9 rats in sham, control and treated groups; respectively), VEGF treatment significantly increased mean arterial pressure (MAP), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), ± dP/dt_max and microvessel counts, and significantly decreased LVEDP and infarct size. VEGF treatment significantly inhibited cardiomyocyte apoptosis and the expression of p53, Fas and Bax protein, and increased the expression of Bcl-2 protein in myocardium at 9 days after myocardial infarction.     

An improved isolated, left ventricular ejecting, murine heart model

 An improved, isolated, left ventricular-ejecting, murine heart model is described and evaluated. Special attention was paid to the design and impedance characteristics of the artificial aortic outflow tract and perfusate composition, which contained glucose (10 mM plus insulin) and pyruvate (1.5 mM) as substrates. Temperature of the isolated perfused hearts was maintained at 38.5 °C. During antegrade perfusion (preload 10 mm Hg, afterload 50 mm Hg, 2.5 mM Ca²⁺) proper design of the aortic outflow tract provided baseline values for cardiac output (CO), left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and the maximum first derivative of left ventricular pressure (LV dP/dt _max) of 11.1±1.7 ml min^–1, 83±5 mm Hg and 6283±552 mm Hg s^–1, respectively, resembling findings in the intact mouse. During 100 min normoxic antegrade perfusion CO declined non-significantly by less than 10%. Varying pre- and afterloads resulted in typical Frank-Starling relationships with maximal CO values of 18.6±1.8 ml min^–1 at pre- and afterload pressures of 25 and 50 mm Hg, respectively. Left ventricular function curves were constructed at free [Ca²⁺] of 1.5 and 2.5 mM in the perfusion medium. Significantly higher values for CO, LVDP and LV dP/dt _max and LV dP/dt _min were obtained at 2.5 mM Ca²⁺ at all loading conditions investigated. Phosphocreatine and creatine levels remained stable throughout the perfusion period. Despite a small but significant decline in tissue ATP content, the sum of adenine nucleotides did not change during the normoxic perfusion period. The tissue content of glycogen increased significantly. Received: 28 April 1998 / Received after revision and accepted: 10 September 1998     

Relationship between ischaemic time and ischaemia/reperfusion injury in isolated Langendorff‐perfused mouse hearts

Myocardial functional recovery and creatine kinase (CK) release following various periods of ischaemia were investigated in isolated mouse hearts. The hearts were perfused in the Langendorff mode with pyruvate‐containing Krebs–Hensleit (KH) buffer under a constant perfusion pressure of 80 mmHg, and were subjected to either continuous perfusion or to 5, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45 or 60 min of global ischaemia followed by 45 min of reperfusion. In hearts subjected to ischaemic periods of 5, 15 or 20 min, there was a transient reduction in the left ventricular (LV) dP/dt max during the early phase of reperfusion, while the recovery at the end of reperfusion reached a level similar to that in hearts subjected to continuous perfusion. In hearts subjected to longer ischaemic periods, i.e. 25, 30, 45 or 60 min, the decrease in the cardiac performance was more pronounced and persistent, with significantly lower recovery in LV dP/dt max and higher LV end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) at the end of reperfusion than in the non‐ischaemic hearts. There were no significant differences in the recoveries in coronary flow or in heart rate (HR) between groups. Similarly to the functional recovery, the release of CK showed a clear ischaemic length‐related increase. In conclusion, the Langendorff‐perfused isolated mouse heart could be a valuable model for studies of myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury. Future studies using gene‐targeted mice would add valuable knowledge to the understanding of myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury.     

Postnatal development in intermittent hypoxia enhances resistance to myocardial ischemia/reperfusion in male rats

To assess the tolerance of rats that developed from birth in intermittent hypoxia (IH) to myocardial ischemia and reperfusion, we set up a reproducible model in our laboratory. IH rats were raised 60 days from birth in a hypobaric chamber at 5000 m for 6 h daily, while controls were in continuous normoxic conditions. At 60 days after birth, the antioxidant capacity of the heart was determined; arterial and venous partial pressures of oxygen were measured at sea level and 5000 m altitude. In addition, isolated hearts of each group were perfused in Langendorff mode and submitted to 30 min global ischemia followed by 30 min reperfusion to compare functional recovery and lactate dehydrogenase release. For the IH rats, recovery of left ventricular developed pressure (DP), the maximum of the positive or negative first derivative of left ventricular pressure with respect to time (±LV dP/dt), end-diastolic pressure (EDP), and pressure-rate product (PRP) were all superior (P<0.05) to those of control rats. The myocardial antioxidant capacity was also significantly increased in the left ventricle of IH rats. Further, at 5000 m altitude the arterio-venous oxygen gradient (Pa–vO₂) was significantly (P<0.01) higher in the IH rats than in the controls. These data indicate that IH from birth enhances the tolerance of the heart to ischemia/reperfusion, elevates the myocardial antioxidant capacity, and increases oxygen extraction.     

ErbB receptors protect the perfused heart against injury induced by epinephrine combined with low-flow ischemia

ErbB receptor tyrosine kinases are important in maintaining the long-term structural integrity of the heart and in the induction of hypertrophy. In addition, in vivo activation of ErbB1 by epidermal growth factor (EGF) protects the heart against acute stress-induced damage. We examined here whether the ErbB sytem acutely protects the isolated heart in which stress was induced in vitro by ischemia combined with epinephrine infusion (EPI). In perfused mouse hearts, EGF induced Tyr-phosphorylation of ErbB1 but not ErbB2. Neuregulin-1β (NRG-1β) induced Tyr-phosphorylation of both ErbB4 and ErbB2. We also found differences in the signaling cascades activated by each growth factor. To stress the perfused mouse heart, we combined EPI with low-flow ischemia. This resulted in (i) loss of left ventricle contraction force ( + dP/dt_max) and developed pressure (LVDP) after a short period of hypercontractility, (ii) enhanced anaerobic metabolism (lactate production), and (iii) myocyte injury (lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release). EGF and NRG-1β had different effects on stressed-heart contractility. EGF reduced to a half the loss of both + dP/dt_max and LVDP. In contrast, NRG-1β exacerbated the hypercontractility soon after reperfusion. This is coincident with a transient increase in coronary flow after reperfusion. In spite of these differences in contraction, both EGF and NRG-1β induced similar early protection as shown by the reduction of LDH release. Our results show that the ErbB system protects the perfused heart against damage induced by acute stress. They reinforce the relevance of ErbB receptors and ligands in cardiac physiology.     

Participation of Na/Ca‐exchanger and sarcoplasmic reticulum in the high [K]o‐protection against ischaemia‐reperfusion dysfunction in rat hearts

Aim: Na/Ca‐exchanger (NCX) and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) roles during the protection by a cardioplegic solution (25 mm K and 0.5 mm Ca, CPG) against ischaemia‐reperfusion was studied. Methods: Contractile performance (CP) and high energy phosphates contents (HEP) were evaluated in isolated ventricles from rats. They were pre‐treated with Krebs (C) or CPG and submitted to no‐flow ischaemia and reperfusion (I–R). KB‐R7943 5 μm (inhibitor of NCX in reverse mode), 8 mm caffeine and ionic changes were used pre‐ischaemically to evaluate each pathway role. Results: During R, CP recovered to 77 ± 8% of basal in CPG‐hearts vs. 55 ± 8% (P < 0.05) in C‐ones. CPG avoided the increases in end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and in PCr/ATP ratio during I–R. Low [Na]_o (78 mm ) under both, CPG‐2 mm Ca and C, increased further the LVEDP during I–R. LVEDP was also transiently increased by caffeine‐CPG, but not modified by KB‐R7943. The recovery of CP during reperfusion of CPG‐hearts was decreased either, by caffeine (to ～75%), low [Na]_o‐2 mm Ca‐CPG (to ～40%) and KB‐R7943 (to ～16%). Conclusions: CPG protected hearts from ischaemic contracture by attenuating the fall in ATP and removing diastolic Ca by means of NCX in forward mode. Moreover, CPG induces higher CP recovery during reperfusion by participation of SR and NCX in reverse mode. This work remarks the use of CPG based on the functional role of these Ca handling‐mechanisms in a pathophysiological condition as ischaemia‐reperfusion.     

内源性碱性成纤维细胞生长因子是大鼠对抗心脏缺血/再灌注损伤的保护因子

目的:观察内、外源性碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)在大鼠心脏缺血/再灌注(I/R)损伤中的作用。方法:在大鼠离体心脏I/R模型上分别给以bFGF和bFGF抗血清,以生理多导仪测定心率、±LVdp/dt_max及左心室终末舒张压(LVEDP)变化,并测定冠脉流量、冠脉流出液中蛋白、肌红蛋白含量、乳酸盐脱氢酶(LDH)活性以及心肌组织钙、丙二醛(MDA)、三磷酸腺苷(ATP)含量和蛋白激酶(PKC)、丝裂素活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)活性。结果:I/R组心功能显著低于对照组,冠脉流出液中蛋白、肌红蛋白含量、LDH活性及心肌MDA、钙含量显著升高,ATP含量显著降低(均P＜0.01)。bFGF组±LVdp/dt_max较I/R组分别高42.8％和25.6％,LVEDP低40.0％,再灌末心率/预灌末心率(HRr/HRi)及冠脉流量的(B/A)分别高42.3％和20.3％,冠脉流出液中蛋白、肌红蛋白含量及LDH活性分别少28.8％、30.2％(均P＜0.01)和32.3％(P＜0.05),心肌MDA和钙含量分别少44.4％和35.6％,ATP含量高33.8％。心肌PKC、MAPK活性分别高41.3％和10.1％(均P＜0.01);bFGF抗血清组±LVdp/dt_max较I/R组分别低35.1％和38.1％,LVEDP高92.5％,HRr/HRi及冠脉流量的B/A分别少36.0％和45.4%,冠脉流出液中蛋白、肌红蛋白和LDH漏出分别多54.3%、96.2%和34.4%,心肌MDA和钙含量分别高23.6%和49.7%,ATP含量低27.8%,心肌PKC及MAPK活性分别低20.9%和7.7%(均P<0.01)。结论:内源性bFGF是大鼠对抗心脏缺血/再灌注损伤的保护因子。     

Cardiac function during mild hypothermia in pigs: increased inotropy at the expense of diastolic dysfunction

Aim: The induction of mild hypothermia (MH; 33 °C) has become the guideline therapy to attenuate hypoxic brain injury after out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation. While MH exerts a positive inotropic effect in vitro, MH reduces cardiac output in vivo and is thus discussed critically when severe cardiac dysfunction is present in patients. We thus assessed the effect of MH on the function of the normal heart in an in vivo model closely mimicking the clinical setting. Methods: Ten anaesthetized, female human-sized pigs were acutely catheterized for measurement of pressure–volume loops (conductance catheter), cardiac output (Swan-Ganz catheter) and for vena cava inferior occlusion. Controlled MH (from 37 to 33 °C) was induced by a vena cava inferior cooling catheter. Results: With MH, heart rate (HR) and whole body oxygen consumption decreased, while lactate levels remained normal. Cardiac output, left ventricular (LV) volumes, peak systolic and end-diastolic pressure and dP/dt_max did not change significantly. Changes in dP/dt_min and the time constant of isovolumetric relaxation demonstrated impaired active relaxation. In addition, MH prolonged the systolic and shortened the diastolic time interval. Pressure–volume analysis revealed increased end-systolic and end-diastolic stiffness, indicating positive inotropy and reduced end-diastolic distensibility. Positive inotropy was preserved during pacing, while LV end-diastolic pressure increased and diastolic filling was substantially impaired due to delayed LV relaxation. Conclusion: MH negatively affects diastolic function, which, however, is compensated for by decreased spontaneous HR. Positive inotropy and a decrease in whole body oxygen consumption warrant further studies addressing the potential benefit of MH on the acutely failing heart.     

ATP-dependent potassium channels and mitochondrial permeability transition pores play roles in the cardioprotection of theaflavin in young rat

Previous studies have confirmed that tea polyphenols possess a broad spectrum of biological functions such as anti-oxidative, anti-bacterial, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and cardiovascular protection activities, as well as anti-cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury properties. But the effect of tea polyphenols on ischemia/reperfusion heart has not been well elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of theaflavin (TF1) and its underlying mechanism. Young male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into five groups: (1) the control group; (2) TF1 group; (3) glibenclamide + TF1 group; (4) 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) + TF1 group; and (5) atractyloside + TF1 group. The Langendorff technique was used to record cardiac function in isolated rat heart before and after 30 min of global ischemia followed by 60 min of reperfusion. The parameters of cardiac function, including left ventricular developing pressure (LVDP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), maximal differentials of LVDP (±LVdP/dt _max) and coronary flow (CF), were measured. The results showed: (1) compared with the control group, TF1 (10, 20, 40 μmol/l) displayed a better recovery of cardiac function after ischemia/reperfusion in a concentration-dependent manner. At 60 min of reperfusion, LVDP, ±LVdP/dt _max and CF in the TF1 group were much higher than those in the control group, whereas left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) in the TF1 group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.01). (2) Pretreatment with glibenclamide (10 μmol/l), a K_ATP antagonist, completely abolished the cardioprotective effects of TF1 (20 μmol/l). Also, most of the effects of TF1 (20 μmol/l) on cardiac function after 60 min of reperfusion were reversed by 5-HD (100 μmol/l), a selective mitochondria K_ATP antagonist. (3) Atractyloside (20 μmol/l), a mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opener, administered at the beginning of 15 min of reperfusion completely abolished the cardioprotection of TF1 (20 μmol/l). The results indicate that TF1 protects the rat heart against ischemia/reperfusion injury through the opening of K_ATP channels, particularly on the mitochondrial membrane, and inhibits mPTP opening.     

Myocardial inositoltrisphosphate is depressed by dibutyryl cAMP. An experimental study in the isolated working rat heart

A possible interrelation between IP₃ and cAMP was studied in rat myocardium through circumvention of the receptor mediated stimulatory step of adenylyl cyclase by the administration of dibutyryl cAMP (db-cAMP). Changes in IP₃ and cyclic nucleotide contents were correlated to changes in contractility after 40 min of β- and α-adrenergic stimulation. Rat hearts (n= 23) were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit buffer in a modified Langendorff apparatus as a working preparation. The hearts were allocated to perfusion as control (n= 6); or with phenylephrine (10^-6 mol L^-1, n= 6); (—)-isoproterenol (10^-6 mol L^-1, n= 6); db-cAMP (2 times 10^-4 mol L^-1, n= 5). All hearts were freeze-clamped after 40 min of perfusion. Phenylephrine produced a slow increase in _max dP/dt reaching a maximal value after 10 min (P < 0.05); thereafter it decreased, reaching the control level at 30 min. Isoproterenol perfusion resulted in an early (20 s) increase in _max dP/dt (P < 0.05). Over the next 10 s _max dP/dt decreased markedly reaching an inflection point at 30 s. Thereafter only a slow increase during the rest of the perfusion was seen. Dibutyryl cAMP increased _max dP/dt slowly during the whole perfusion period reaching maximum after 40 min. Cyclic-AMP was increased by 21% after 40 min of phenylephrine perfusion while the corresponding increases by isoproterenol and db-cAMP were 131 and 105%, respectively (P < 0.05). Phenlyephrine increased IP₃ content to the same extent as isoproterenol perfusion (P < 0.05). On the other hand, a decreased IP₃ content was seen at 40 min of db-cAMP perfusion. Cyclic-AMP per se depressed basal myocardial IP₃ content in myocardial tissue. Despite normalization of contractility after 40 min of phenylephrine perfusion the IP₃ content was 27% higher than in control hearts pointing out the unclearness of the relationship between myocardial IP₃ content and the contractile system.     

The isolated working mouse heart: methodological considerations

 Our aim was to develop a working isolated murine heart model, as the extensive use of genetically engineered mice in cardiovascular research requires development of new miniaturized technology. Left ventricular (LV) function was assessed in the isolated working mouse heart perfused with recirculated oxygenated Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer (37 °C pH 7.4) containing 11.1 mM glucose and 0.4 mM palmitate bound to 3% albumin. The hearts worked against an afterload reservoir at a height equivalent to 50 mmHg, and heart rate was controlled by electrical pacing of the right atrium. LV pressure was measured with a micromanometer connected to a small steel cannula inserted through the apex of the heart. The experimental protocol consisted of two interventions. First, following instrumentation and stabilization, the preload reservoir was raised from a pressure equivalent of 7 to 22.5 mmHg, while pacing at 390 beats·min^–1. Thereafter the height of the preload reservoir was set to 10 mmHg, and the pacing rate was varied from 260 to 600 beats·min^–1. Aortic and coronary flows were measured by timed collections of effluent from the afterload line and that dripping from the heart, respectively [aortic+coronary flow=cardiac output (CO)]. Elevation of LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) from approximately 5 to 10 mmHg resulted in a twofold increase in average cardiac power [product of LV developed pressure (LVDevP) and CO], whereas myocardial contractility (first derivative of LV pressure, dP/dt) and LVDevP (LV systolic pressure–LVEDP) increased only minimally (5–10%). Measured LVEDP was lower than the equivalent height of the preload reservoir by an amount that was related to the heart rate. Cardiac power, LVDevP and dP/dt were stable at heart rates up to 400 beats·min^–1, but declined markedly with higher rates, consistent with the decrease in LVEDP. Thus, cardiac power was reduced to 50% of its maximum value when stimulated at approximately 500 beats·min^–1, and at even higher rates there was little ejection. By systematic manipulation of the height of the preload reservoir and heart rate, we conclude that LV afterload and preload can be assessed only by high-fidelity measurement of intraventricular pressures. The heights of the afterload column and the preload reservoir are unreliable and potentially misleading indicators of LV afterload and preload. Received: 28 September 1998 / Accepted: 25 January 1999     

In vivo heat shock preconditioning mitigates calcium overload during ischaemia/reperfusion in the isolated, perfused rat heart

Heat shock (HS) pretreatment of the heart is effective in mitigating the deleterious effects of ischaemia/reperfusion. The main objective of this study was to determine whether the beneficial effect of HS is associated with the preservation of intracellular Ca²⁺ handling in the ischaemic/reperfused, isolated rat heart. Twenty-four hours after raising body core temperature to 42 °C for 15 min, rat hearts were perfused according to Langendorff and subjected to 30 min ischaemia followed by 20 min reperfusion. Cyclic changes of cytoplasmic calcium ion [Ca²⁺_i] levels were measured by surface fluorometry using Indo-1 AM. Reperfused HS hearts showed improved recovery of contractile function compared with control hearts: end-diastolic pressure: 45±11 vs. 64±22 mm Hg; developed pressure: 72±12 vs. 41±20 mm Hg; maximum rate of pressure increase (+dP/dt_max): 1,513±305 vs. 938±500 mm Hg/s; maximum rate of pressure decrease (–dP/dt_max): –1,354±304 vs. –806±403 mm Hg/s. HS hearts displayed a significantly lower end-diastolic cytosolic [Ca²⁺] ([Ca²⁺]_i) after reinstallation of flow. The dynamic parameters of the Ca²⁺_i transients, i.e. the maximum rate of increase/decrease (±dCa²⁺_i/dt_max) and amplitude, did not differ between reperfused control and HS hearts. The novel finding of this study is that improved performance of the HS-preconditioned heart after an ischaemic insult is associated with a reduced end-diastolic Ca²⁺_i load, and most likely, preserved Ca²⁺ sensitivity of the myocardial contractile machinery.     

缓激肽在依那普利对心肌梗死大鼠心肌肥厚及心功能影响中的作用

目的:探讨依那普利(enalapril)对大鼠心肌梗塞(M1)后心肌肥厚及心功能的影响是否与其抑制缓激肽(BK)降解的途径有关。方法:将大鼠随机分为:①假手术对照组(sham-operated control),②心肌梗死组(MI),③依那普利干预组(MI+enalapril),④依那普利和BKB₂受体阻断剂Hoe-140共同干预组(MI+enalapril+Hoe-140),⑤血管紧张素ⅡⅠ型受体阻断剂losartan干预组(Ml+losartan)。3个药物干预组从MI术后第3d开始给药,持续4周,然后测定左心室舒张末压(LVEDP)、+dp/dt_max及左心室重/体重(LVW/BW)、左心室非梗死区组织的平均(每核)心肌细胞体积,并进行组间比较。结果:3个药物干预组的LVEDP、LVW/BW及V(m)n均低于MI组(均Pp/dt_max和MI组相比无显著差别。3个药物干预组之间平均动脉压(MAP)无明显差异,但Ml+enalapril+Hoe-140组的LVW/BW及V(m)n的值却高于MI+enalapril组。结论:Enalapril可阻抑大鼠MI后的心肌肥厚并改善左心室功能,这种作用的部分机制是由于其促使了心肌组织BK的积累,即BK参与了enalapril阻抑心肌肥厚及改善心功能的作用,且这些作用不依赖于血压的影响。     

Muscle metabolite accumulation following maximal exercise

Summary Five elite flatwater kayak paddlers were studied during indoor simulated 500 and 10,000-m races, with performance times of 2 and 45 min, respectively. Muscle biopsies were obtained from the midportion of m. deltoideus immediately pre and post exercise. Concentrations of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), creatine phosphate (CP), glucose, glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P), glycogen, and lactate were subsequently determined. Short term exercise resulted in statistically significant increases in glucose (P<0.001), G-6-P (P<0.05) and lactate (P<0.01) concentration concomitant with decreased CP (P<0.05) and glycogen (P<0.01). Following prolonged exercise, a non-significant elevation in glucose and a reduction (P<0.01) in glycogen were demonstrated.Evidently the metabolic demands for kayak competitions at 500 and 10,000 m are different. Thus, the energy contribution from glycolytic precursors and the anaerobic component is of greater relative importance in short distances than in exercise of long duration. A generalization of the findings to other athletic events of varying distances is proposed. The present data on arm-exercise is consistent with previous findings obtained in connection with leg exercises.     

Brief femoral artery ischaemia provides protection against myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion injury in rats: the possible mechanisms.

The present study was conducted to examine the role of nitric oxide (NO), mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K(+) channels (mito K(+)(ATP) channels) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their interdependence in brief femoral artery ischaemia-induced myocardial preconditioning. To assess myocardial injury, myocardial infarction was induced by occlusion followed by reperfusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery in anaesthetized rats and was assessed by triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Left ventricular function was assessed by left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and the maximal rate of rise of left ventricular pressure [LV(dP/dt)(max)]. Serum creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined by colorimetric kits. Remote preconditioning (RPC) was induced by 15 min occlusion of femoral arteries followed by 10 min of reperfusion just before LAD coronary artery occlusion. Brief femoral artery ischaemia led to a 61% reduction in myocardial infarct size, 57% reduction in elevated serum LDH and 72% reduction in elevated CK-MB activities, and a significant improvement in LVEDP and LV(dP/dt)(max) compared with control animals. Pretreatment with 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) or l-NAME or N-acetylcystein (NAC) blocked this protective effect of femoral artery ischaemia. Moreover, infusion of l-arginine or diazoxide before coronary artery occlusion markedly reduced the myocardial infarction and improved the left ventricular function. This effect of l-arginine was found to be abolished by the blockade of mito K(+)(ATP) channels with 5-HD and, similarly, the effect of diazoxide was blocked in the presence of a ROS scavenger, NAC. The results suggest that brief femoral artery ischaemia-induced RPC is mediated by a combination of increased NO synthesis, opening of mito K(+)(ATP) channels and increased ROS production. Moreover, it appears that NO is working upstream and acts via activation of mito K(+)(ATP) channels, which subsequently increases the production of ROS.     

The inotropic effect of atrial natriuretic factor in the anesthetized rabbit

This study was designed to investigate whether atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) administered over the physiological, pathological and pharmacological range has a negative inotropic action on the heart. Anesthetized rabbits were infused with increasing doses of ANF (0.05, 0.25 and 0.5g kg^–1min^–1), while measuring hemodynamic variables including the maximum rate of change of left ventricular pressure (dP/dt _max) as an index of inotropic state. Plasma levels of immunoreactive ANF (iANF) were measured to relate the hemodynamic changes to actual plasma levels of the peptide. Administration of ANF was associated with decreases in blood pressure, left ventricular pressure and dP/dt _max so that after 0.5 g kg^–1 min^–1 infusion, these variables had decreased by 21±2 mmHg, 21±5.3 mmHg and 925±175 mmHg/s, respectively (P<0.01). There were no significant changes in right atrial pressure, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure or heart rate. Since dP/dt _max can be influenced by changing hemodynamic variables and baroreflex changes, a second group of rabbits was studied in which afterload and heart rate were held artificially constant. Again, in this group of rabbits, infusions of ANF led to decreasing inotropic state, so that at the highest infusion rate, a 14% decrease in dP/dt _max was observed (P<0.05). By comparison, hydralazine, a drug which causes active vasodilatation but no direct inotropic action, significantly (P<0.01) decreased blood pressure, left ventricular pressure and dP/dt _max when infused at a rate of 10 g kg^–1 min^–1. However, in animals in which afterload was controlled, hydralazine did not affect any of the variables measured. The results indicate that ANF does have a negative inotropic action in the anesthetized rabbit.     

Cardiodepressant mediators are released after myocardial ischaemia: modulation by catecholamines and adenosine

The interaction of recently characterized cardiodepressant mediators with catecholamines and adenosine after myocardial ischaemia was investigated using a model of sequential perfusion of two isolated guinea-pig hearts. Sequential perfusion was initiated after 10, 20, and 30 min (group I, II, and III) of global ischaemia in the first heart. At the onset of sequential perfusion LVdP/dt_max and _min of Heart II decreased by 46 and 44% in group I, by 28 and 34% in group II, and increased by 60 and 24% in group III. Infusion of the β₁-receptor antagonist metoprolol (2.8 μmol L^–1) into Heart II did not modulate contractile changes after 10 min of ischaemia in Heart I, prevented the attenuation of the cardiodepressant effect after 20 min of ischaemia, and completely reversed the positive inotropic effect after 30 min of ischaemia. The A1- and A2-receptor antagonists DPCPX (2 μmol L^–1) and DMPX (20 μmol L^–1) enhanced the positive inotropic and lusitropic effects in Heart II (LVdP/dt_max +154%, LVdP/dt_min +71%) during sequential perfusion after 30 min of ischaemia in Heart I. It is concluded that the effects of cardiodepressant mediators released after myocardial ischaemia are counteracted by a time-dependent release of catecholamines. Endogenous cardiac adenosine, in turn, attenuates the modulatory effects of catecholamines.     

非兴奋性电刺激对正常及心肌梗死兔心功能的影响及其作用的局部性

目的:观察于绝对不应期发放电刺激对正常和心肌梗死(MI)兔在体心脏心功能的影响及其对心肌作用的局部性。方法:64只家兔随机分为正常组和MI组两大组,每组又分为前壁和后壁两组。复制MI模型,4周后每组开胸,窦性心律下,分别于前壁组和后壁组的左心室前壁和后壁,发放绝对不应期方波电刺激(CCM)。观察左心室收缩压(LVSP)左心室舒张末压(LVEDP)及其微分(±dp/dt_max)的变化。结果:正常组前壁和后壁CCM刺激时LVSP及+dp/dt_max均显著大于刺激前(P<0.05),LVEDP低于、-dp/dt_max负值大于刺激前(P<0.05),且不同部位的CCM刺激对心功能的影响不同,左心室前壁的上述作用大于后壁(P<0.05);MI组前壁和后壁CCM刺激时LVSP及+dp/dt_max亦大于刺激前(P<0.05),LVEDP低于、-dp/dt_max负值亦大于刺激前(P<0.05),但前后壁两组之间无显著差别(P＞0.05)。结论:于绝对不应期发放电刺激能明显增强正常和MI后心肌的收缩和舒张功能,CCM刺激对心肌的作用是局部性的。     

The effect of shuttle test protocol and the resulting lactacidaemia on maximal velocity and maximal oxygen uptake during the shuttle exercise test

Summary The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of the shuttle test protocol (20-MST) and the resulting lactacidaemia on maximal velocity (V _max) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max). Firstly, three randomly assigned tests to exhaustion were performed by 12 subjects: the treadmill test, the 20-MST, and a continuous running track test using the same prerecorded 1-min protocol as in the 20-MST (T1). One week later, subjects performed another track test, which was conducted up to the same level of effort as attained during the 20-MST (T2). For each test, V _max, VO_2max) lactate concentration at rest and during recovery, maximal heart rate, and distance covered were determined. The results indicated that the 20-MST underestimated V _max; only Tl satisfactorily assessed V _max (F=15.49, P<0.001). At the same level of effort, the peak blood lactate concentration (t=2.7, P<0.02) and VO_2max (t=11.35, P<0.001) values were higher for the shuttle than for the continuous protocol. It was concluded that V _max was limited by the running backwards and forwards in the protocol of the shuttle test. The higher values of peak blood lactate concentration and its earlier appearance obtained for the shuttle may have been one of the limiting factors of V _max. However, the higher values of VO_2max obtained for the 20-MST were most likely due to a combination of the relative hyperlactacidaemia and the biomechanical complexities required for this type of protocol.     

The use of critical power as a determinant for establishing the onset of blood lactate accumulation

Eight highly trained male kayakers were studied to determine the relationship between critical power (CP) and the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA). Four exercise sessions of 90 s, 240 s, 600 s, and 1200 s were used to identify the CP of each kayaker. Each individual CP was obtained from the line of best fit (LBF_CP) obtained from the progressive work output/time relationships. The OBLA was identified by the 4 mmol·l^–1 blood lactate concentration and the work output at this level was determined using a lactate curve test. This consisted of paddling at 50 W for 5 min after which a 1-min rest was taken during which a 25-l blood sample was taken to analyse for lactate. Exercise was increased by 50 W every 5 min until exhaustion, with the blood sample being taken in the 1-min rest period. The exercise intensity at the OBLA for each subject was then calculated and this was compared to the exercise intensity at the LBF_CP. The intensity at LBF_CP was found to be significantly higher (t=2.115, P<0.05) than that at the OBLA of 4 mmol·1^–1. These results were further confirmed by significant differences being obtained in blood lactate concentration (t=8.063, P<0.05) and heart rate values (t=2.90, P<0.05) obtained from the exercise intensity at LBF_CP over a 20-min period and that of the anaerobic threshold (Th_an) parameters obtained from the lactate/heart rate curve. These differences suggest that CP and Th_an are different physiological events and that athletes have utilised either one or the other methods for monitoring training and its effects.