An essential role of the antioxidant gene Bcl-2 in myocardial adaptation to ischemia: an insight with antisense Bcl-2 therapy

Reperfusion of ischemic myocardium results in apoptotic cell death, which can be blocked by adapting the heart to ischemic stress induced by cyclic episodes of brief periods of ischemia and reperfusion. In concert, the antiapoptotic gene bcl-2 is decreased by ischemia/reperfusion, but increased in the ischemically adapted myocardium. To examine if bcl-2 plays a crucial role in cardioprotection, adaptive cardioprotection was further examined in the hearts treated with antisense bcl-2 oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN). Isolated Langendorff-perfused rat hearts were divided into three groups: control (perfused with Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer for 210 min); 30-min ischemia followed by 2-h reperfusion; ischemic adaptation followed by 30-min ischemia and 2-h reperfusion. The last (adapted heart) group was subdivided into another two groups: one was transfected 48 h earlier with antisense bcl-2 ODN, whereas the other group was transfected with sense bcl-2 ODN. Cardioprotection was examined by determining cardiomyocyte death due to necrosis and apoptosis. Antisense gene therapy almost completely abolished bcl-2 protein expression in the hearts. Bcl-2 mRNA was down-regulated in the ischemic/reperfused heart, but up-regulated in the adapted myocardium. Adapted myocardium showed decreased infarct size and reduced number of apoptotic cardiomyocytes. Ischemia/reperfusion resulted in increased oxidative stress as evidenced by increased malonaldehyde formation. Adapted myocardium had a reduced amount of malonaldehyde. Antisense bcl-2 ODN completely abolished the cardioprotective effects of adaptation by eliminating the antideath signal of bcl-2. In concert, reduced oxidative stress in the adapted myocardium no longer persisted. The results suggest an antioxidant role of bcl-2 that appeared to be essential for the cardioprotection achieved by ischemic adaptation.     

尼可地尔激活RISK通路减轻高胆固醇大鼠心肌缺血/再灌注损伤

目的探讨尼可地尔对高胆固醇大鼠心肌缺血/再灌注损伤的影响及其可能机制。方法应用高胆固醇饮食喂养健康雄性Wistar大鼠8周建立高胆固醇大鼠模型,应用Langendorff灌流装置采用全心缺血30min和再灌注120min建立离体心脏缺血/再灌注(I/R)模型。在缺血前或再灌注即刻灌注含有尼可地尔的KH液10min以制备尼可地尔药物预处理(NIC-pre)与后处理(NIC-post)模型。通过TTC染色测量心肌梗死面积、TUNEL染色检测心肌细胞凋亡率,Western blot检测RISK通路p-Akt和p-Erk1/2蛋白表达水平。结果与I/R对照组相比,NIC-30pre组与NIC-30post组均可降低心肌梗死面积和心肌细胞凋亡率,并显著上调p-Akt和pErk1/2的表达水平。结论尼可地尔减轻高胆固醇大鼠心肌缺血/再灌注损伤,与其激活RISK通路相关。     

Electroacupuncture reduces myocardial infarct size and improves post-ischemic recovery by invoking release of humoral, dialyzable, cardioprotective factors

Previous studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) can induce cardioprotection against ischemia–reperfusion (IR) injury, but its mechanisms are incompletely understood. We have previously shown that several other forms of remote preconditioning of the heart work, at least in part, via the release of circulating cardioprotective factors into the bloodstream, that can be dialyzed and subsequently shown to reduce IR injury in isolated hearts. We used the same methods to assess whether EA leads to similar humoral cardioprotection. EA rabbits were subjected to 60 min of bilateral stimulation at the Neiguan point, following which their blood was drawn, dialyzed, and used to perfuse hearts in Langendorff preparation and subsequently subjected to 60 min of global ischemia and 120 min of reperfusion. Compared to controls, dialysate from EA animals led to significant reduction in infarct size and improved functional recovery. The degree of cardioprotection was no different to that seen in animals randomized to receive remote preconditioning using transient limb ischemia (4 cycles of 5 min ischemia/5 min reperfusion). These results suggest that EA recapitulates the cardioprotection achieved by remote preconditioning, by similarly leading to release of circulating cardioprotective factors.     

Brief apnea induces myocardial ischemic tolerance by an opioid-insensitive mechanism.

BACKGROUND: Intermittent brief "preconditioning" (PC) ischemia has been shown to render the heart resistant to a subsequent sustained ischemic insult, in part through an opioid-dependent mechanism. Using the rabbit model, we tested the hypothesis that intermittent in vivo apnea elicits a cardioprotective response similar to that achieved with conventional PC ischemia. In addition, we sought to determine if infarct size reduction seen in this model was stimulated via opioid receptor activation. METHODS: Anesthetized, intubated rabbits (n=35) were randomized to receive three 4.5-min bouts of apnea interspersed with 5 min normal ventilation or time-matched standard ventilation (controls). Upon completion of the in vivo PC/control period, the hearts were excised and assessed for ischemic tolerance on a modified Langendorff apparatus (40 min global ischemia+2h reperfusion). To assess the contribution of opioid receptor stimulation, two additional control and PC groups received the nonspecific opioid antagonist naloxone (10 mg/kg) prior to the in vivo intervention phase. Infarct size (delineated by tetrazoliam staining and expressed as a percentage of the left ventricle [LV]) was compared among the four groups by ANOVA. RESULTS: Infarct size was significantly reduced in hearts that received antecedent apneic PC when compared with controls (63+/-5% vs. 34+/-8%) of the LV, respectively; P<.05). Pretreatment with naloxone had no significant effect on infarct size in nonpreconditioned hearts (80+/-6%) and did not inhibit the protective effects of apnea-induced PC (52+/-10% in naloxone+PC group). CONCLUSIONS: Intermittent apnea evokes significant myocardial ischemic tolerance through an opioid-insensitive mechanism.     

Genistein attenuates oxidative stress and neuronal damage following transient global cerebral ischemia in rat hippocampus

Oxidative stress is believed to contribute to neuronal damage induced by cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the possible antioxidant neuroprotective effect of genistein against neuronal death in hippocampal CA1 neurons following transient global cerebral ischemia in the rat. Transient global cerebral ischemia was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by four-vessel-occlusion for 10min. At various times of reperfusion, the histopathological changes and the levels of mitochondria-generated reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), cytosolic cytochrome c and caspase-3 activity in hippocampus were measured. We found extensive neuronal death in the CA1 region at day 5 after I/R. The ischemic changes were preceded by increases in ROS generation and MDA concentration and followed by increased cytosolic cytochrome c, and subsequently caspase-3 activation and apoptosis. Treatment with genistein (15mg/kg, i.p.) significantly attenuated ischemia-induced neuronal death. Genistein administration also decreased ROS generation, MDA concentration and the apoptotic indices. These results suggest that genistein protects neurons from transient global cerebral I/R injury in rat hippocampus by attenuating oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and the signaling cascade leading to apoptotic cell death.     

缺血后处理对缺血再灌注家兔肾皮质血流量的影响

目的:观察缺血后处理(IPo)对缺血再灌注(I/R)家兔肾皮质血流量的影响,探讨IPo的肾保护作用。方法:24只日本大耳白兔随机分成3组:假手术组(S组),I/R组,IPo组,每组8只,均用3%戊巴比妥钠麻醉。I/R组采用结扎并切除右肾,分离并夹闭左肾动脉45min,再灌注60min制备肾I/R模型;S组麻醉后开腹,切除右肾,分离左肾及动脉;IPo组在切除右肾、夹闭左肾动脉45min后,再灌1min,缺血1min,反复4次,再全面恢复血流灌注60min;各组取股动脉血液用去蛋白终点法测定血浆肌酐(Cr)含量,二乙酰-肟显色法测定血尿素氮(BUN)含量;应用激光多普勒血流监测仪观测肾皮质血流量。结果:与S组比较,I/R组血浆Cr和BUN浓度升高(P<0.05),肾皮质血流量显著降低(P<0.05)。与I/R组相比,IPo组血浆Cr和BUN浓度降低(P<0.05),肾皮质血流量升高(P<0.05)。结论:IPo可以增加I/R后肾脏皮质的血液灌流量,改善肾功能。     

Ischemic preconditioning triggers nuclear translocation of thioredoxin and its interaction with Ref-1 potentiating a survival signal through the PI-3-kinase-Akt pathway

Thioredoxin (Trx-1), a key mediator of cellular redox homeostasis and cell survival, is implicated in redox signaling in the ischemic myocardium. To investigate further its mechanism of action, Trx expression in rat heart was suppressed by direct injection of small hairpin RNA against Trx-1 (shRNA-Trx-1). Forty-eight hours after treatment, hearts were excised for isolated working-heart preparation. A group of hearts was preconditioned (PC) by subjecting them to four cyclic episodes of 5-min ischemia, each followed by 10 min of reperfusion. All the hearts, PC or non-PC, were subjected to 30-min ischemia followed by 2 h of reperfusion. As expected, the PC hearts exhibited improved ventricular function, reduced infarct size, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Also in PC hearts, an increase was noted in Trx-1 and other cardioprotective and redox-regulated proteins like Ref-1, phospho-Akt, and NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity. PC also caused nuclear translocation of Trx-1 and Ref-1 followed by their association. However, in hearts treated with shRNA-Trx 1, the cardioprotective effects of PC were abolished along with a concomitant decrease in nuclear localized Trx-1 and Ref-1, along with a decrease in phospho-Akt and NF-kappaB. These results demonstrate that PC triggers translocation of Trx-1 into the nucleus, where it becomes associated with Ref-1 and performs redox signaling through the activation of NF-kappaB and an increase in prosurvival signal inducer phospho-Akt.     

The role of epidermal growth factor in prevention of oxidative injury and apoptosis induced by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion in rats

Intestinal ischemia/reperfusion is a major problem which may lead to multiorgan failure and death. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on apoptosis, cell proliferation, oxidative stress and the antioxidant system in intestinal injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion in rats and to determine if EGF can ameliorate these toxic effects. Intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury was produced by causing complete occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery for 60 min followed by a 60-min reperfusion period. Animals received intraperitoneal injections of 150 μg/kg human recombinant EGF 30 min prior to the mesenteric ischemia/reperfusion. Mesenteric ischemia/reperfusion caused degeneration of the intestinal mucosa, inhibition of cell proliferation, stimulation of apoptosis and oxidative stress in the small intestine of rats. In the ischemia/reperfusion group, lipid peroxidation was stimulated accompanied by increased intestinal catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities, however, glutathione levels and superoxide dismutase activities were markedly decreased. EGF treatment to rats with ischemia/reperfusion prevented the ischemia/reperfusion-induced oxidative injury by reducing apoptosis and lipid peroxidation, and by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities. These results demonstrate that EGF has beneficial antiapoptotic and antioxidant effects on intestinal injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion in rats.     

Attenuation of conduction delay by ischemic preconditioning reduces ischemia-induced ventricular arrhythmias

Ischemic preconditioning has been acknowledged as a powerful method of decreasing ischemic injury. However, the antiarrhythmic mechanism of ischemic preconditioning during ischemia is unclear. We studied the effects of ischemic preconditioning on arrhythmias and cardiac electrophysiology during ischemia in Langendorff rat hearts (n = 44). In the non-preconditioned group (PC(-); n = 24), the hearts underwent 5-min zero-flow global ischemia without any prior ischemic preconditioning. In the preconditioned group (PC(+); n = 20), the hearts were preconditioned by three cycles of 3-min zero-flow global ischemia and 5-min reperfusion before undergoing 5-min global ischemia. Ischemic preconditioning reduced the incidence of ischemia-induced arrhythmias (PC(-); 38.9%, PC(+): 8.3%, p < 0.05), shortened monophasic action potential duration (MAPD, P < 0.05), attenuated conduction delay (conduction time; PC(-): 234.2%, PC(+): 173.4%, P < 0.05) and increased the ventricular fibrillation threshold. Although the shortening of MAPD in PC(-) hearts was not influenced by the presence or absence of arrhythmias, conduction time prolongation at 3-min was more obvious in PC(-) hearts with arrhythmia than in PC(-) hearts without arrhythmia (PC(-) with arrhythmia: 220.2%, PC(-) without arrhythmia: 190.7%, P < 0.05). We concluded that ischemic preconditioning could protect the rat hearts from ischemia-induced arrhythmias and postulated that attenuation of conduction delay during ischemia might be an important factor in the antiarrhythmic action of ischemic preconditioning.     

Adrenocorticotrope hormone fragment (4-10) attenuates the ischemia/reperfusion-induced cardiac injury in isolated rat hearts

The aim of our study was to investigate the contribution of the adrenocorticotropic hormone fragment, ACTH (4-10), on the recovery of postischemic cardiac function. Effects of ACTH (4-10) on caspase-3 activity, cardiomyocyte and endothelial apoptosis, and HO-1 protein expression were studied. Rats were treated with various doses of ACTH (4-10), and then 12 h later, anesthetized, hearts were isolated, perfused, and subjected to 30-min ischemia followed by 120-min reperfusion. Cardiac function including heart rate, coronary flow, aortic flow, and left ventricular developed pressure were recorded. After 120-min reperfusion, 200 mug/kg of ACTH (4-10) significantly improved the recovery of aortic flow, coronary flow, and left ventricular developed pressure from their untreated control values of 15.3 +/- 0.9 ml/min, 6.5 +/- 0.9 ml/min, and 10 +/- 0.6 kPa to 20.7 +/- 1.3 ml/min, 24.8 +/- 1.8 ml/min and 13.7 +/- 0.7 kPa, respectively. Heart rate did not show significant changes during reperfusion. ACTH (4-10) treatment resulted in a reduction in infarct size, caspase 3 activity, apoptosis, and an increase in HO-1 expression. When ACTH (4-10) was given at the moment of reperfusion, the drug failed to improve the postischemic recovery of the myocardium. Thus, ACTH (4-10) can be a useful tool for the prevention of the development of ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury.     

大鼠心肌缺血再灌注损伤时粘附分子CD40及CD40配体的表达

目的:探讨粘附分子CD40及CD40配体(CD40L)在心肌缺血再灌注损伤中的表达。方法:采用大鼠心肌缺血再灌注损伤模型,大鼠分7组:对照组(n=3)、单纯缺血30min、缺血30min再灌注1min、5min、10min、20min和30min组(各组n=6),利用流式细胞技术观察外周血CD40及CD40L的表达,并用免疫组织化学法观察CD40及CD40L在心肌中表达情况。结果:单纯30min缺血组(I_30min)的CD40及CD40L高于对照组(P＜0.05);在不同的再灌注时间中,CD40及CD40L在再灌注1min(R_1min)开始升高,R_5min达高峰,随后开始下降,R_30min达基线,其中R_5min、R_10min的CD40及CD40L比I_30min及对照组高(P＜0.05),免疫组织化学法显示CD40及CD40L在心肌细胞膜上表达,正常心肌细胞膜上表达较弱,损伤心肌细胞膜上表达较强。结论:提示心肌缺血再灌注损伤的发生可能与粘附分子CD40及CD40L的异常表达有关。     

Ischemic preconditioning suppresses apoptosis of rabbit spinal neurocytes by inhibiting ASK1-14-3-3 dissociation

The mechanism by which a brief episode of sublethal ischemia followed by reperfusion (ischemic preconditioning, IPC) prevents the lethal effects of subsequent periods of prolonged ischemia, are poorly understood. A completely randomized, controlled study was designed to study the effect of IPC using a rabbit model of ischemic spinal cord injury. Twenty-four white adult New England rabbits were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups (n=8 per group); the groups were assigned as follows: Group I: sham-operation group, Group II: ischemic reperfusion (I/R) group, and Group III: ischemic preconditioning group. Spinal cord ischemia was induced by introducing an infra renal aortic cross-clamp for 30min. Following injury, rabbits were subjected to 30min, 2h, or 8h of reperfusion in Group II. In Group III, subjects underwent three cycles, 5min each, of ischemia followed by 5min of reperfusion, before receiving 30min of ischemia. We previously reported that the association between ASK1 (apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1) and 14-3-3 played an important role in regulating ischemia/reperfusion spinal cord injuries. To evaluate the effect of ischemic preconditioning in injured spinal cords, we examined alterations in spinal tissue morphology, activation of key members of the ASK1-mediated signaling pathway, and the association between ASK1 and 14-3-3. Changes in spinal cord morphology were observed with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and electron microscopy. The phosphorylation levels of ASK1, JNK, and p38 were assessed by immunoblot analysis. The association between ASK1 and 14-3-3 was analyzed by co-immunoprecipitation experiments. We observed that swelling of the neurocyte bodies and hemorrhage of the spinal cord were dramatically decreased in Group III compared to Group II. In addition, the degree of apoptosis among neurocytes was reduced in Group III compared to Group II. Finally, the phosphorylation of ASK1, JNK, p38 and the dissociation of ASK1 from 14-3-3 were dramatically decreased in Group III compared with Group II. These results indicate that ischemic preconditioning may have a protective affect against ASK1/14-3-3 dissociation-induced spinal cord injuries.     

Exercise preconditioning initiates late cardioprotection against isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury in rats independent of protein kinase C

The objective of this study was to investigate the late cardioprotective effect of exercise preconditioning (EP) on isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial injury in rats and the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in EP. Rats were injected with ISO 24 h after running on a treadmill for four periods of 10 min each at 28–30 m/min with intervening periods of rest of 10 min. Nonselective PKC inhibitor chelerythrine (CHE) was injected before EP. The myocardial injury was evaluated quantitatively in terms of the serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels, the myocardial ischemia/hypoxia area, and the integral optical density (IOD) of haematoxylin–basic fuchsin–picric acid (HBFP) staining, and qualitatively in terms of the myocardial ultrastructure. EP markedly attenuated the ISO-induced myocardial ischemia/hypoxia and ultrastructural damage with lower serum cTnI levels. CHE injection before EP did not block the protective effect of EP, displaying a mild myocardial ischemia/hypoxia and well-preserved ultrastructure with even lower serum cTnI levels. The results indicate that EP can exert a late cardioprotection against ISO-induced myocardial injury, and that an injection of the nonselective PKC inhibitor CHE before EP may have a different effect on ISO-induced myocardial injury. Further investigation needs to be conducted to define the role of different PKC isozymes in EP by using isozyme-selective inhibitors.     

缺血预处理对肝硬化大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注中肝细胞凋亡的影响

目的:探讨缺血预处理(IPC)在肝硬化大鼠肝缺血再灌注(I/R)损伤的拮抗作用及其机理。方法:Pringle法复制肝I/R模型,将肝硬化大鼠随机分为3组:A组:肝缺血前给予1个IPC处理(缺血5min,灌注5min);B组:肝缺血前给予1个IPC处理(缺血10min,灌注10min);C组:对照组,单纯肝门血流阻断。肝缺血时间为30min,再灌注6h。测定各组的血清谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、肝组织Fas-mRNA表达、caspase-3活性和肝细胞凋亡。结果:经IPC处理后,大鼠7d生存率为100%,而无IPC处理组即为62.5%。再灌注6h,A、B2组的ALT明显低于C组,P＜0.01,A组的ALT亦明显低于B组,P＜0.01。检测A、C2组的肝组织Fas-mRNA表达、caspase-3活性和肝细胞凋亡发现,A组的上述指标均比C组低,P＜0.01。结论:IPC对肝硬化大鼠肝I/R损伤有显著的对抗作用,其中以缺血5min和灌注5min的IPC的作用较强。IPC的保护机理是通过下调Fas-mRNA的表达、抑制caspase-3活性,从而减少肝细胞凋亡来实现的。     

局部缺血"预处理"诱导家兔相邻非缺血心肌热休克蛋白70基因表达

目的：研究兔心局部缺血“预处理”后,局部缺血和相邻非缺血心肌热休克蛋白７０（ＨＳＰ７０）ｍＲＮＡ的水平变化。方法：提取心肌组织总ＲＮＡ,用ＨＳＰ７０探针进行斑点杂交。结果：缺血预处理组的缺血区和非缺血区ＨＳＰ７０ｍＲＮＡ表达水平均显著高于对照组相应部位（Ｐ＜００５）,而每组内的缺血区及非缺血区间无显著差异（Ｐ＞００５）。结论：局部缺血“预处理”后,缺血和非缺血区两处心肌的内反应呈“一致性”;缺血预处理对心肌的保护作用可能与ＨＳＰ７０的合成增多有关。     

Changes in catecholamine, angiotensin converting enzyme and adenosine triphosphatase in ischemic preconditioning rat hearts

Changes in catecholamine ,angiotensin converting enzy me and adenosine triphosphatase in ischemic preconditioning rat hearts     

咪唑安定保护家兔心肌缺血再灌注损伤机制的研究

目的 :观察咪唑安定对家兔心肌缺血 /再灌注期血清和心肌TNF α、IL 6的影响 ,探讨其保护作用机制。方法 :利用结扎 /开放左冠状动脉左前降支 ,结扎 30min/开放 1 80min建立心肌缺血 /再灌注模型。 2 4只家兔随机分为三组 (每组 8只 ) :假手术对照组 (A组 ) ,未予心肌缺血处理 ;缺血再灌注组 (B组 )于缺血前 5min(I0 )、缺血 30min(I1 )、再灌注 1h(R1 )和 3h(R2 )取颈内静脉血 ,并于实验结束后取心肌组织匀浆 ,分别测定IL 6和TNF α浓度 ;咪唑安定组(C组 )缺血前 2 0min静脉注射咪唑安定 0 .75mg/kg(人等效剂量 ) ,以每小时 0 .4mg/kg持续泵入 ,取血样时点和检测指标均同B组。结果 :C组血清TNF α在I1 和R1 时升高 ,R2 时降低 ,IL 6在R2 时升高 ,但在各时点均较B组相应值低 (P <0 .0 1或 0 .0 5 ) ,心肌组织TNF α、IL 6水平亦低于B组 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,但较A组明显升高 (P <0 .0 1 ) ;B组TNF α在I1 时点显著升高 ,IL 6在R1 和R2 时点持续升高 ,心肌组织中TNF α和IL 6含量明显增加 ,同A组和C组比差异有高度显著性。结论 :在心肌缺血再灌注损伤中 ,咪唑安定通过抑制心肌组织和血清TNF α和IL 6的合成或释放 ,从而对心肌组织有保护作用。     

缺血后处理减轻兔缺血再灌注心肌细胞损伤

目的探讨缺血后处理对在体兔心肌缺血再灌注心肌细胞凋亡和线粒体结构与功能的影响以及可能机制。方法80只兔随机分为假手术组(sham组)、心肌缺血再灌注组(IR组)、缺血预处理组(IP组)、缺血后处理组(PC组)以及缺血后处理加5-羟葵酸(5-HD)干预组(PC+5-HD组)。用TUNEL法检测心肌细胞凋亡,用透射电镜观察心肌细胞的超微结构,用荧光法检测线粒体膜电位,比色法测线粒体Ca2+浓度、丙二醛(MDA)浓度、超氧化物岐化酶(SOD)活性。结果与IR组比较,PC组和IP组兔心肌细胞凋亡减少,心肌及线粒体形态结构改变明显减轻,线粒体跨膜电位、SOD活性明显升高、线粒体Ca2+浓度、MDA浓度均下降(P<0.05),5-HD部分降低上述作用。结论PC可能通过提高线粒体跨膜电位、降低线粒体氧自由基水平、减轻线粒体钙超载而减轻心肌细胞损伤,其机制可能与线粒体功能损伤有关。     

Effect of acute hyperglycaemia and diabetes mellitus with and without short-term insulin treatment on myocardial ischaemic late preconditioning in the rabbit heart in vivo

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and the resulting hyperglycaemia may interfere with the cardioprotective effect of ischaemic late preconditioning (LPC). Therefore, we investigated the effect of acute hyperglycaemia (part 1) and the effect of alloxan-induced DM with or without short-term insulin treatment (part 2) on LPC. Rabbits, chronically instrumented with a coronary artery occluder, were subjected to 30 min coronary artery occlusion and 2 h reperfusion (I/R) and infarct size (IS) was assessed. In part 1, four groups were studied. Controls were not treated further. LPC induced by a 5-min period of myocardial ischaemia 24 h before I/R reduced IS from 42+/-14 (controls) to 22+/-8% of the area at risk. Hyperglycaemia (600 mg dl(-1) by dextrose infusion, H(600)) before and during the 30 min ischaemia tended to increase IS (57+/-16%, P=0.14 vs. controls) and blocked cardioprotection by LPC (H(600)+LPC, 59+/-19%, P=1.0 vs. H(600), P=0.0003 vs. LPC). In part 2, LPC reduced infarct size from 43+/-13% (control) to 23+/-10% ( P=0.003). In diabetic animals, IS was 39+/-11%, and cardioprotection by LPC could not be elicited (DM+LPC, 41+/-16%, P=0.02 vs. LPC). Short-term insulin treatment (I, 90 min before I/R, blood glucose <150 mg dl(-1)) did not restore the cardioprotective effects of LPC (DM+I, 42+/-15%; DM+LPC+I, 40+/-10%, P=0.03 vs. LPC). It is concluded that acute hyperglycaemia and DM block the cardioprotection induced by LPC in rabbits and that the cardioprotection is not restored by short-term insulin treatment.     

Post-ischemic early acidosis in cardiac postconditioning modifies the activity of antioxidant enzymes, reduces nitration, and favors protein S-nitrosylation

Postconditioning (PostC) modifies the early post-ischemic pH, redox environment, and activity of enzymes. We hypothesized that early acidosis in PostC may affect superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, may reduce 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) protein levels, and may increase S-nitrosylated (SNO) protein levels, thus deploying its protective effects. To verify this hypothesis, we studied the early (7^th min) and late (120^th min) phases of reperfusion (a) endogenous SOD and CAT activities and (b) 3-NT protein levels and SNO protein levels. Isolated rat hearts underwent 30-min ischemia/120-min reperfusion (I/R) or PostC (5 cycles of 10-s I/R at the beginning of 120-min reperfusion) either with or without exogenous CAT or SOD infused during the initial 3 min of reperfusion. The effects of early reperfusion with acid buffer (AB, pH 6.8) on endogenous antioxidant enzymes were also tested. Pressure, infarct size, and lactate dehydrogenase release were also measured. At the 7^th min, PostC induced a significant decrease in SOD activity with no major change both in Mn and Cu/Zn SOD levels and in CAT activity and level. PostC also reduced 3-NT and increased SNO levels. Exogenous SOD, but not CAT, abolished PostC cardioprotection. In late reperfusion (120-min), I/R increased SOD activity but decreased CAT activity and Cu/Zn SOD levels; these effects were reversed by PostC; 3-NT was not affected, but SNO was increased by PostC. AB reproduced PostC effects on antioxidant enzymes. The conclusions are as follows: PostC downregulates endogenous SOD and preserves CAT activity, thus increasing SNO and reducing 3-NT levels. These effects are triggered by early post-ischemic acidosis. Yet acidosis-induced SOD downregulation may limit denitrosylation, thus contributing to PostC triggering. Hence, exogenous SOD, but not CAT, interferes with PostC triggering. Prolonged SOD downregulation and SNO increase may contribute to PostC and AB beneficial effects.