bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Calcium overload and cardiac myocyte cell damage induced by arachidonate lipoxygenation
Authors: Oe H. , Kuzuya T. , Hoshida S. , Nishida M. , Hori M. , Kamada T. , Tada M.
Published: December 2017

The accumulation of arachidonic acid and lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonate occurs in ischemic-reperfused myocardium. Although lipoxygenase inhibitors have been shown to attenuate myocardial infarct size after ischemia-reperfusion, the relationship between arachidonate lipoxygenation and myocardial injury remains unclear. To investigate the direct effect of arachidonate lipoxygenation on cardiac myocytes, isolated rat cardiac myocytes loaded with indo 1 were superfused with Tyrode solution containing arachidonic acid mixed with soybean lipoxygenase. Although neither arachidonic acid nor lipoxygenase alone had any effects, arachidonic acid plus lipoxygenase induced an increase in the twitch amplitude associated with an increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and irreversible hypercontracture. Nordihydroguaiaretic acid, a lipoxygenase inhibitor, blocked these effects. Linolenic acid, which is also a lipoxygenase substrate, caused the same effects as arachidonic acid in the presence of lipoxygenase, whereas oleic and stearic acid, which do not function as lipoxygenase substrates, did not. Both ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol attenuated an increase in [Ca2+]i and the cellular damage, whereas nicardipine and superoxide dismutase had no effects. These results suggest that lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid cause intracellular Ca2+ overload and cellular damage to cardiomyocytes, probably through augmentation of lipid peroxidation of the cell membranes by free radicals.
Pyruvate increases threshold for preconditioning in globally ischemic rat hearts
Authors: Sargent C. A. , Dzwonczyk S. , Sleph P. , Wilde M. , Grover G. J.
Published: December 2017

Isolated rat hearts can be protected by preconditioning, although this has not been found when they are perfused with pyruvate. We addressed the question of whether pyruvate could increase the threshold for preconditioning in isolated rat hearts and whether this could be overcome with increased durations of ischemia. A protocol of four periods of 5 min of ischemic preconditioning (4 x 5 min) protected hearts (improved recovery of function, reduced lactate dehydrogenase release) not perfused with pyruvate from a subsequent 30-min period of global ischemia, but did not protect pyruvate-perfused hearts. Pilot studies indicated that hearts perfused in the presence of pyruvate must be ischemic for approximately 40% longer to produce equivalent ischemic damage in nonpyruvate-treated hearts. Thus the preconditioning period of 5 min was increased by approximately 40% to 7 min to produce equivalent degrees of preconditioning. Hearts preconditioned with the 4 x 7 min protocol with pyruvate were significantly protected against a subsequent severe global ischemia (enhanced recovery of function, reduced lactate dehydrogenase release). High-energy phosphates were measured at the end of the preconditioning protocol (before final global ischemia) to determine whether there was a correlation between cardioprotection and high-energy phosphate levels. There was no correlation between ATP, ADP, or AMP levels and the efficacy of preconditioning. However, an increase in creatine phosphate was associated with cardioprotection, although the importance of this in mediating preconditioning is doubtful. Thus the ability to precondition rat hearts is somewhat dependent on their energy source, but this appears to be due to changes in the severity of the ischemic preconditioning event.
Mechanism of current-induced early afterdepolarizations in guinea pig ventricular myocytes
Authors: Ming Z. , Aronson R. , Nordin C.
Published: December 2017

We investigated possible ionic mechanisms that cause early afterdepolarizations (EADs) following the injection of constant inward current in guinea pig ventricular myocytes by several interventions that affect failure of action potential repolarization. The amount of constant current was adjusted to measure the threshold potential (Vth) associated with the minimum inward current required for inducing EADs [threshold current (Ith)] and also the magnitude of EADs at Vth and following adjustment of current to generate takeoff potentials of -30 and -20 mV. Interventions associated with either inhibition of Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (ryanodine 5 x 10(-6) M) or L-type membrane Ca2+ channel current (verapamil 1.1 x 10(-5) M and nisoldipine 5 x 10(-7) M) reduced or abolished EADs arising from -30 or -20 mV. Cells that generated delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs) in the absence of depolarizing current after 20 stimulations at 5 Hz either in control solution or following interventions associated with Ca2+ loading (reduced extracellular [K+] or increased extracellular [Ca2+]) also developed a marked shift in Vth of current-induced EADs at 1-Hz stimulation to more negative potentials [60.3 +/- 10.7 mV (mean +/- SD, n = 17) vs. -41.7 +/- 6.4 mV in cells without DADs in control solution (n = 25), P < 0.001]. Ca2+ loading also increased the magnitude of EADs arising from Vth and -20 mV. Exposure to quinidine (1.23 x 10(-5) M), which blocks both Na+ and delayed rectifier K+ channels, significantly reduced Ith but had only minimal effect on the magnitude of EADs. Our results suggest that L-type Ca2+ channel current and [Ca2+]-sensitive inward current associated with release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum are the major currents that cause this form of EADs, and that Ca2+ loading promotes the development of large EADs likely to propagate to normal tissue.
Effect of adenosine on contractile state and oxygen consumption in isolated rat hearts
Authors: Wannenburg T. , de Tombe P. P. , Little W. C.
Published: December 2017

We studied the effects of adenosine on oxygen consumption and contractile state in 17 isolated, crystalloid-perfused, isovolumically contracting rat heart preparations at constant coronary flow. In 10 experiments we determined adenosine-contractile state dose-response relationships in three groups of hearts using two different perfusates and in the presence and absence of adrenergic blockade. Adenosine consistently reduced contractile state in a dose-dependent fashion, reducing the ventricular pressure developed at a constant ventricular volume by 24% on average at its maximal effect. An adenosine concentration of 111 microM on average produced 50% of the maximal effect. In seven experiments we determined the end-systolic pressure-volume and oxygen consumption-pressure-volume area (MVO2-PVA) relationships at two calcium concentrations (1.5 and 0.75 mM) and with adenosine 400 microM (1.5 mM Ca2+). Contractile state was indexed by the developed pressure at a ventricular volume of 0.3 ml (P0.3). Compared with 1.5 mM Ca2+, mean P0.3 was reduced by 38% with 0.75 mM Ca2+ and by 18% with adenosine. Whereas the MVO2-PVA slopes did not change, the mean MVO2 intercept was reduced by 22% with 0.75 mM Ca2+ and by 13% with adenosine. The MVO2 intercept, which represents the oxygen consumed by the unloaded heart, was directly related to P0.3. This relationship, which represents the oxygen cost of contractility, was not affected by adenosine. We conclude that at constant coronary flow and perfusion pressure adenosine reduces myocardial contractility and the oxygen consumed for excitation-contraction coupling. However, adenosine does not affect the slope of the MVO2-PVA relation or the oxygen cost of contractility.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Rate-limiting steps in activation of cardiac Cl- current revealed by photolytic application of cAMP
Authors: Nakashima Y. , Ono K.
Published: December 2017

Single myocytes were obtained from guinea-pig ventricles, and the catecholamine-induced Cl- current (ICl) was recorded by the patch-clamp method combined with the use of caged adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and the concentration jump technique. The rapid bath application of isoprenaline was followed by a marked latency of approximately 1.7 s before a sigmoidal onset of the ICl activation, while the photolysis of caged cAMP was followed by no measurable latency. The ICl conductance was increased by increasing the concentration of caged cAMP with a threshold of approximately 5 microM and a one-half effective concentration of 25 microM. On the other hand, the rate of the activation increased in proportion to the logarithm of the concentration of caged cAMP. When the ultraviolet flash was repeated or the myocytes were pretreated with either forskolin, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, or okadaic acid, the rate of the ICl activation accelerated, and the whole time course of the ICl activation became monoexponential. These findings suggest that both the production of cAMP and reactions on the multiple phosphorylation sites of the channel protein are major rate-limiting steps in the ICl activation.
Novel method to alter length and load in isolated mammalian cardiac myocytes
Authors: Sollott S. J. , Lakatta E. G.
Published: December 2017

We have devised a novel technique enabling reversible gradations in the resting and contraction length of intact mammalian ventricular myocytes of up to 15-18% over slack length. Enzymatically isolated single cells are embedded in a transparent, elastic, cross-linked fibrin matrix, contained within a narrow elastic tube. Reversible gradations in cell length are produced via fibrin matrix stretch, produced by stretching the tube. Simultaneous measurement of cell length, edge motion, and indo 1 fluorescence during auxotonic contractions permits characterization of cell contractile function. Although force cannot be directly measured, the time integral of contractile force (i.e., relative contractile impulse, a contractile index that is independent of shortening constraints) is derived combining myocyte shortening and matrix loading. Relatively small degrees of myocyte stretch produce a lightly afterloaded model dominated by variations in preload in which there is parallel augmentation of shortening and contractile impulse (force) development. At higher degrees of stretch, significant afterloading is introduced, resulting in the development of an inverse relationship between shortening and impulse (approaching isometric conditions). Length-dependent Ca2+ myofilament activation and load-dependent relaxation are readily demonstrated in intact isolated mammalian ventricular myocytes.
Cholesterol homeostasis in cultures of rat heart myocytes: relationship to cellular hypertrophy
Authors: Shmeeda H. , Petkova D. , Barenholz Y.
Published: December 2017

The mechanism leading to accumulation of cholesterol in hypertrophic cultures of neonatal rat heart myocytes was investigated in light of its relevance to aging-related hypertrophy of myocardial tissue. Lipoprotein turnover was low in young cells (days 4–6) and further depressed in older cells (days 12–14), and therefore could not account for the increase in cholesterol levels. 3H2O incorporation into cell monolayers and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase activity in cell-free extracts demonstrated a substantial increase in cholesterogenesis during culture aging. Cholesteryl ester (CE) synthesis, cellular levels, and acyl-CoA:cholesterol O-acyltransferase (ACAT) activity decreased. The rate of CE hydrolysis did not change. Although cholesterol efflux from cells decreased 50%, its relative contribution to cholesterol accumulation was small. Our results indicate that accumulation of cholesterol in aging rat myocyte cultures is primarily due to changes in the endogenous metabolism of cholesterol and not due to a lipoprotein-mediated pathway. This implicates an impairment of the feedback regulation of HMG-CoA reductase and ACAT. These findings have important implications for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying aging-related myocardial hypertrophy.
Endogenous endothelin-1 impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation after myocardial ischemia and reperfusion
Authors: Hagar J. M.
Published: December 2017

Endothelin (ET)-1 is produced in response to myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. It is a potent constrictor of coronary resistance vessels and may therefore contribute to myocardial injury and postischemic microvascular dysfunction. Isolated buffer-perfused rabbit hearts, under conditions of constant flow and isovolumic contraction, underwent 60 min of global ischemia and 60 min of reperfusion after pretreatment with selective ETA receptor antagonist BQ-123 (10(-7) M) in perfusate, exogenous ET-1 (10(-11) M), or control. Release of ET increased significantly at 20 and 60 min of reperfusion. BQ-123 did not enhance the recovery of left ventricular developed pressure or coronary perfusion pressure, whereas exogenous ET tended to worsen them. Cumulative creatine kinase release over 20 min of reperfusion did not differ significantly between groups. Maximum endothelium-dependent dilation to acetylcholine (ACh) was initially 62 +/- 6, 71 +/- 6, and 63 +/- 8% (SE) of U-46619-induced preconstriction in control, BQ-123-, and ET-treated hearts. At 20 min of reperfusion it was 37 +/- 5, 73 +/- 9, and 22 +/- 5%, and at 60 min of reperfusion it was 35 +/- 7, 79 +/- 6, and 22 +/- 3% (P < 0.001 for BQ-123 vs. control at 20 min and P < 0.0001 at 60 min). Endothelium-independent dilation to nitroglycerin was unaltered by ischemia and reperfusion. Neither BQ-123 alone nor a 1-h infusion of ET (10(-10) M) altered the response to ACh in nonischemic hearts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Preload, length-tension relation, and isometric relaxation in cardiac muscle
Authors: Gillebert T. C. , Raes D. F.
Published: December 2017

It is widely believed that preload does not influence isometric relaxation and left ventricular pressure fall. Preload, however, alters cross-bridge interaction and intracellular Ca2+ handling. We therefore evaluated the effects of preload reduction on peak length-tension relation and on physiologically sequences isometric force decline. 1) Acute preload reduction resulted in a shift to the left of the peak length-tension relation, an earlier onset of force decline, and an increased rate of initial force decline. 2) Prolonged preload reduction was compared with acute preload reduction and resulted in an unchanged peak length-tension relation, a delayed onset of force decline, and a decreased initial rate of force decline. 3) Prolonged preload reduction was compared with baseline and resulted in a shift to the left of the peak length-tension relation, without predictable effects on timing or rate of force decline. Our hypothesis is that the findings reflected both changes in troponin C affinity for Ca2+ and altered Ca2+ reuptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
Autoregulation of cerebral blood flow: influence of local brain development and postnatal age
Authors: Tuor U. I. , Grewal D.
Published: December 2017

To investigate whether the efficiency of cerebral blood flow autoregulation depends on local brain maturity, we examined the effect of development on the local autoregulatory response. We measured local brain blood flow using laser-Doppler flowmetry and quantitative autoradiography during hemorrhagic hypotension and hypertension (intravenous norepinephrine) in newborn 1- to 2-day-old (P1), 7- to 8-day-old (P8), 16- to 18-day-old (P17), and adult rabbits. Autoregulation within the cortex was less efficient than within the medulla in young (P1 or P8) compared with older rabbits (P17 or adult). Blood pressure increased during development, and the autoregulatory range extended up to 10, 15, 35, and over 100 mmHg about the normal pressure in P1, P8, P17, and adult animals, respectively. Acute severe hypertension readily produced focal areas of hyperemia within the cortex, thalamus, hippocampus, and/or cerebellum in young (P1 and P8) but not P17 animals. Severe hypotension produced profound reductions in blood flow within the cortex and subcortical white matter but not within deep forebrain and brain stem structures. Thus the efficiency of the autoregulatory response in general improved with increasing age and maturity of the brain region indicating that immature brain is susceptible to both ischemia during hypotension and hyperemia during hypertension.
Attenuation of sodium nitroprusside responses after prolonged incubation of rat aorta with endotoxin
Authors: Tsuchida S. , Hiraoka M. , Sudo M. , Kigoshi S. , Muramatsu I.
Published: December 2017

We investigated the effects of prolonged treatment with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the responses to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in endothelium-denuded rat aortic strips. Incubation of the aortic strips with LPS for 24 h dramatically attenuated relaxation and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) formation by SNP, which were significantly restored by the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production with N omega-nitro-L-arginine. In the aorta coincubated with LPS and protein synthesis inhibitor (dexamethasone or cycloheximide, which prevents induction of endotoxin-inducible NO synthase), no attenuation of the relaxation was observed and the cGMP formation was significantly restored. Relaxation response to 8-bromo-cGMP or papaverine was not attenuated, even after 24 h of incubation. These results suggest that the attenuation of SNP responses is mainly associated with a decrease in the activation of guanylate cyclase (GC) as a consequence of the prolonged exposure to muscle-derived NO. Moreover SNP in the presence of methylene blue evoked a small but apparent relaxation of 24-h-incubated aorta without significant elevation of cGMP, suggesting the involvement of cGMP-independent pathways in the remaining relaxation produced by SNP.
Gradients of epicardial strain across the perfusion boundary during acute myocardial ischemia
Authors: Van Leuven S. L. , Waldman L. K. , McCulloch A. D. , Covell J. W.
Published: December 2017

To study the mechanical interaction between acutely ischemic and adjacent perfused myocardium, nonhomogeneous distributions of end-systolic epicardial strain were measured using an array of radiopaque beads sewn on the left ventricular free wall of the pig during complete left circumflex coronary artery occlusion. The midwall perfusion boundary, demarcated by postmortem dye injection, was reconstructed over the span of the epicardial array. During ischemia, circumferential and longitudinal shortening remained significantly depressed up to 13 mm outside the ischemic region near the base of the ventricle, up to 8-9 mm at the midventricle, but only 0-1 mm near the apex (P < 0.05). Gradients of circumferential and longitudinal strain across the boundary were significantly different during both baseline conditions and acute ischemia (P = 0.0001). However, gradients of the change in the strain from baseline to ischemia were not different for the two components. These results support the concept that direction-dependent differences in the strain gradients across the boundary during ischemia were due to the preservation of the baseline regional variations of strain combined with a loss of systolic function in the ischemic region.
Prevention of lipid peroxidation does not prevent oxidant-induced myocardial contractile dysfunction
Authors: Kong Y. , Lesnefsky E. J. , Ye J. , Horwitz L. D.
Published: December 2017

We tested whether, with exposure to an extraneous iron-catalyzed free radical-generating system, prevention of lipid peroxidation with U74006F, a 21-aminosteroid, could also prevent myocardial contractile dysfunction. Rabbits received either U74006F (10 mg/kg iv) or vehicle (V). Thirty minutes later the hearts were excised and perfused by a non-recirculating Langendorff technique. Six U74006F- and six V-treated hearts were exposed for 7.5 min to a .OH-generating system (H2O2 and Fe(2+)-ADP chelate). Myocardial lipid peroxides were measured by glutathione peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of exogenous glutathione. With exposure to .OH, cytosolic lipid peroxide levels were increased threefold in V-treated hearts, but there was no increase in U74006F-treated hearts. After 30 min of recovery, developed pressure and maximum first derivative of left ventricular pressure were greater in U74006F-treated hearts than in V-treated hearts but were still 50 and 44% of levels in saline hearts, respectively. Coronary flow was markedly reduced after exposure to free radicals and was only slightly less depressed when U74006F was administered. When coronary flow following oxidant exposure was increased by nitroglycerin, U74006F again only modestly improved systolic function. Thus, although U74006F blocked lipid peroxidation, it only slightly improved the ventricular dysfunction caused by .OH. Therefore, factors other than lipid peroxidation play a major role in oxidant-induced myocardial stunning.
Rat and rabbit heart infarction: effects of anesthesia, perfusate, risk zone, and method of infarct sizing
Authors: Ytrehus K. , Liu Y. , Tsuchida A. , Miura T. , Liu G. S. , Yang X. M. , Herbert D. , Cohen M. V. , Downey J. M.
Published: December 2017

Rabbits and rats are becoming popular models for in vitro as well as in situ studies of myocardial infarction. In the present analysis we evaluated the results of several of our completed investigations and tested whether blood-free perfusate, anesthesia, or risk zone size affects infarction in these species. In addition, the influence of the method used for determining infarct size (histology or histochemistry) was examined in rabbits. All hearts experienced 30 min of regional ischemia followed by either 2-3 h of reperfusion in animals in which infarct size was assessed by staining with triphenyltetrazolium chloride or 72 h in those in which histological methods were used to measure infarct size. Eighteen rabbit and seven rat hearts perfused with Krebs buffer, seventeen open-chest rabbits, eight rats anesthetized with pentobarbital, and ten conscious rabbits were studied. Risk zone size measured with fluorescent particles was plotted against infarct size. Infarct size was linearly correlated with risk zone size and did not differ among models for each species. In rat hearts the regression line passed through the origin so that zero infarction occurred with zero risk zone size. However, in the rabbit heart there was no apparent infarction for risk zone sizes < 0.3 cm3. Although the relationship between risk zone and infarction was found to be remarkably independent of the model chosen, the nonzero intercept for the rabbit heart can be an important, previously unrecognized source of experimental variability when infarct size is expressed as a percentage of the risk zone.
Endogenous BK stimulates ischemically sensitive abdominal visceral C fiber afferents through kinin B2 receptors
Authors: Pan H. L. , Stahl G. L. , Rendig S. V. , Carretero O. A. , Longhurst J. C.
Published: December 2017

Abdominal ischemia and reperfusion reflexly activate the cardiovascular system. In the present study, we evaluated the role of endogenously produced bradykinin (BK) in the stimulation of ischemically sensitive visceral afferents. Single-unit activity of abdominal visceral C fiber afferents was recorded from the right thoracic sympathetic chain of anesthetized cats during 5 min of abdominal ischemia. Abdominal ischemia increased the portal venous plasma BK level from 49 +/- 10 to 188 +/- 66 pg/ml (P < 0.05). Injection of BK (1 microgram/kg ia) into the descending aorta significantly increased impulse activity (0.88 +/- 0.16 impulses/s) of 10 C fibers, whereas a kinin B1-receptor agonist, des-Arg9-BK (1 microgram/kg), did not alter the discharge rate. Inhibition of kininase II activity with captopril (4 mg/kg i.v.) potentiated impulse activity of 14 ischemically sensitive C fibers (0.44 +/- 0.09 vs. precaptopril, 0.33 +/- 0.08 impulses/s; P < 0.05). In addition, a kinin B2-receptor antagonist (NPC-17731; 40 micrograms/kg i.v.) attenuated activity of afferents during ischemia (0.39 +/- 0.08 vs. pre-NPC-17731, 0.72 +/- 0.13 impulses/s; P < 0.05) and eliminated the response of 10 C fibers to BK. Another kinin B2-receptor antagonist, Hoe-140 (30 micrograms/kg iv), had similar inhibitory effects on six other ischemically sensitive C fibers. In 15 separate cats treated with aspirin (50 mg/kg i.v.), Hoe-140 (30 micrograms/kg i.v.) attenuated impulse activity of only 3 of 16 ischemically sensitive C fibers. These data suggest that BK produced during abdominal ischemia contributes to the stimulation of ischemically sensitive visceral C fiber afferents through kinin B2 receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
LPC in oxidized LDL elicits vasocontraction and inhibits endothelium- dependent relaxation
Authors: Murohara T. , Kugiyama K. , Ohgushi M. , Sugiyama S. , Ohta Y. , Yasue H.
Published: December 2017

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis and potentially influences the endothelial regulation of vasomotor tone. We have recently shown that lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), a lysophospholipid contained in ox-LDL, has various pathophysiological effects. We further examined the role of LPC in the ox-LDL-induced vasoactivity in isolated pig coronary arteries. Copper-induced ox-LDL but not native LDL (n-LDL) elicited endothelium-dependent contraction during plateau contraction evoked by prostaglandin F2 alpha. Lipid extracted from ox-LDL (ox-LDL-lipid) also induced vasocontraction, but lipid of n-LDL (n-LDL-lipid) did not influence tone. When LPC was depleted from ox-LDL (i.e., defatted albumin- or phospholipase B-treated ox-LDL), vasocontraction was significantly attenuated. Synthetic palmitoyl LPC also induced endothelium-dependent vasocontraction, mimicking the response elicited by ox-LDL, but phosphatidylcholine, which exists in n-LDL and is converted to LPC during oxidative modification of LDL, did not influence the tone. Contraction to either ox-LDL or LPC was significantly attenuated by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine but not by indomethacin or superoxide dismutase. Forty minutes of incubation of coronary rings with either ox-LDL or LPC significantly attenuated endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation to thrombin without affecting vasorelaxation to endothelium-independent vasodilator nitroglycerin. In conclusion, LPC contained in lipid fraction of ox-LDL caused endothelium-dependent contraction and inhibited endothelium-dependent relaxation in isolated pig coronary arteries. The vasocontraction might be at least in part caused by LPC-mediated inhibition of endothelium-derived nitric oxide release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adrenergic regulation of coronary microcirculation after extracorporeal circulation and crystalloid cardioplegia
Authors: Wang S. Y. , Friedman M. , Johnson R. G. , Weintraub R. M. , Sellke F. W.
Published: December 2017

The purpose of the present study was to examine whether adrenoceptor-mediated responses of porcine coronary resistance arteries are affected by cardioplegic arrest under conditions of extracorporeal circulation (cardiopulmonary bypass; CPB). Pigs were placed on CPB. The hearts were arrested with a cold hyperkalemic crystalloid cardioplegic solution for 1 h, then were reperfused for 1 h. In vivo and in vitro beta-adrenoceptor-mediated responses were compared before CPB and 2 min and 1 h after initiation of reperfusion. In vitro responses were studied in a pressurized no-flow state with video microscopy. Isoproterenol (0.02 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, intracoronary) increased coronary blood flow by 100 +/- 32% (P < 0.001) before CPB and cardioplegic arrest, 17 +/- 7% 2 min postcardioplegia (P < 0.01), and 71 +/- 9 (P < 0.001) after 1 h of reperfusion. Relaxation of precontracted microvessels (90-180 micron) to isoproterenol, NaF, forskolin, and adenosine was reduced after cardioplegic arrest (all P < 0.001). After 1 h of postcardiolegia-reperfusion, relaxation responses to forskolin and adenosine were completely restored, whereas the responses to isoproterenol (P < 0.05) and NaF (P < 0.10) were only partially recovered. Cardioplegic arrest and postcardioplegia-reperfusion blunted the alpha 2-adrenoceptor-mediated endothelium-dependent relaxation to clonidine (P < 0.001) but did not affect the minimal (< 4%) contractile response to the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine or the relaxation to nitroprusside. These results show that hyperkalemic cardioplegia results in the generalized defect in the beta-adrenoceptor-GS protein-adenylate cyclase pathway, which is significantly restored after reperfusion.
Sympathectomy exaggerates antihypertensive effect of vasopressin withdrawal
Authors: Chiu E. K. , McNeill J. R.
Published: December 2017

The role of sympathetic function in the mechanism of the decrease in arterial pressure that follows withdrawal of an intravenous infusion of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) was studied by comparing this withdrawal-induced antihypertensive phenomenon (WAP) in rats with intact sympathetic function to those subjected to sympathectomy. Sympathectomy with guanethidine did not lower blood pressure significantly in either SHR or normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats despite a marked impairment of sympathetic function as judged by a dramatic attenuation of blood pressure responses to tyramine and by evidence of denervation supersensitivity to phenylephrine. Cessation of a 3-h intravenous infusion of AVP (20 ng.kg-1.min-1) was associated with large and prolonged decrease in pressure below preinfusion levels in SHR with intact sympathetic function: 5 h after stopping the infusion, pressure was 27 +/- 3 mmHg below preinfusion levels. In sympathectomized SHR, the decrease in pressure after cessation of the AVP infusion was much larger: 5 h after the infusion, pressure was 44 +/- 2 mmHg below preinfusion levels. In contrast to SHR, pressure returned to control levels in WKY with intact sympathetic function after withdrawal of AVP. A small but significant decrease in pressure occurred after withdrawal of AVP in sympathectomized WKY. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that withdrawal of sympathetic activity is a contributing factor or a prerequisite condition for development of a WAP.
Insulin-induced release of plasminogen activator from human blood platelets
Authors: Kahn N. N. , Bauman W. A. , Sinha A. K.
Published: December 2017

Incubation of washed platelets in Tyrode buffer, pH 7.5, with insulin (200 microU/ml) and CaCl2 (1.2 mM) at 37 degrees C for 3 h resulted in a threefold increase of plasminogen activator activity in the supernatant over the basal level as determined by both the amidolytic assay and the proteolysis of alpha-casein through the formation of plasmin from plasminogen. This plasminogen activator showed no plasmin-like activity and was inhibited by anti-tissue plasminogen activator antibody as well as by type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor. The substrate specificity and the inhibition of the enzymic activity by various inhibitors indicated that the platelet plasminogen activator (pPA) was related to tissue-type plasminogen activator of relative molecular weight 56,000. Fibrinolytic activity of pPA and its insulin-dependent release were demonstrated by the shortening of euglobulin lysis time and by the clot lysis time of platelet-rich plasma from normal and type I diabetes mellitus patients. Treatment of platelet membranes with insulin also increased the release of pPA. Increased levels of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) in platelets by incubation with various agents completely inhibited the insulin-induced release of the activator. On the other hand, inhibition of platelet aggregation by aspirin had no effect on the release of pPA, indicating that the effect of cAMP was not due to the inhibition of platelet aggregation by the nucleotide.
Distribution of mRNAs for natriuretic peptides in RV hypertrophy after pulmonary arterial banding
Authors: Adachi S. , Ito H. , Ohta Y. , Tanaka M. , Ishiyama S. , Nagata M. , Toyozaki T. , Hirata Y. , Marumo F. , Hiroe M.
Published: December 2017

It has been unclear whether the increases in transcript accumulation for atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) during pressure overload are caused by the direct hemodynamic stress imposed on the myocytes or mediated by systemic hormonal factors. We examined the levels and regional distributions of ANP and BNP mRNAs in the hypertrophied right ventricle produced by experimental coarctation of main pulmonary artery (PA) in rats and compared them with those of skeletal alpha-actin mRNA, which is known to be a genetic marker for cardiac hypertrophy. In this experimental model, the left ventricle was free from the influence of pressure overload. By Northern blot analysis, remarkable increases in mRNAs for ANP and BNP, as well as skeletal alpha-actin, were observed in the right ventricle at 1 day after PA banding. Changes of expression of these genes were minimal in the left ventricle. ANP mRNA levels in the right ventricle increased further at days 3 and 7, whereas BNP mRNA remained at its day 1 level through 7 days. Increased expression of ANP, BNP, and skeletal alpha-actin mRNAs occurred exclusively in the right ventricular (RV) free wall and in the junctional region between the RV free wall and the interseptal wall as determined by in situ hybridization. These data suggest that local stimuli caused by hemodynamic overload induce cardiac hypertrophy and its associated increases in ANP and BNP expression in the RV free wall.
Proportions of rat ANP-secreting cells that are cardiomyocytes and that synthesize the hormone
Authors: Claycombe K. J. , Lee D. W. , Miller H. A.
Published: December 2017

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is released from the heart and participates in regulating blood pressure and volume. We recently developed a reverse hemolytic plaque assay to measure the release of ANP from individual rat atrial cardiocytes. This assay determines the total proportion of atrial cardiocytes committed to releasing ANP. We combined the plaque assay with immunocytochemistry (IC) and in situ hybridization (IS). Combining the plaque assay with IC for myosin revealed that 13.5 +/- 0.9% (%myosin+ and plaque forming; mean +/- SE, n = 4) of atrial cardiocytes are cardiomyocytes that release ANP. Combination of the plaque assay with IS for ANP mRNA showed that 16.6 +/- 0.6% (%in situ+ and plaque forming; mean +/- SE, n = 4) of the cardiocytes in the rat atria synthesize and release the hormone. Incubation of atrial cardiocytes with dexamethasone to stimulate ANP gene expression did not alter the total proportion of in situ-positive ANP-secreting cells. These data suggest that, within the total ANP-secreting population of the rat atria, only 33% of the secreting cells are cardiomyocytes. In addition, 68% of the ANP-secreting cells do not appear to synthesize the hormone. These results imply that muscle and nonmuscle cells are involved in secreting ANP and that cardiomyocytes synthesize the hormone.
Transient ischemia induces regional myocardial glycogen synthase activation and glycogen synthesis in vivo
Authors: McNulty P. H. , Luba M. C.
Published: December 2017

Glycogen is consumed during ischemic preconditioning and synthesized during the subsequent period of ischemic tolerance. To better understand this sequence, we examined the effect of brief coronary artery occlusions on regional myocardial glycogen metabolism in intact, anesthetized rats. Sequential 2-min periods of left coronary artery occlusion reduced the glycogen concentration of the anterior left ventricle approximately 30% relative to the posterior region. During subsequent reperfusion, the activity of the physiologically active glycogen synthase I form of glycogen synthase increased threefold in the anterior region (0.58 +/- 0.11 vs. 0.18 +/- 0.08 mumol.g-1.min-1, P < 0.01), stimulating a similar regional increase in glycogen synthesis rate (0.24 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.08 +/- 0.03 mumol.g-1.min-1, P < 0.01). These events were preceded by a rise in regional glucose 6-phosphate concentration, which increased the activity of a myocardial glycogen synthase phosphatase. In diabetic rats glycogen synthase phosphatase activity was significantly lower, and postischemic glycogen synthase activation was significantly impaired. These data suggest the operation of a feedback loop in which transient ischemia leads to a glucose 6-phosphate-mediated increase in the activity of a phosphoprotein phosphatase active toward glycogen synthase. This suggests phospho-protein phosphatase activation may be a feature of the preconditioned myocardium.
Facilitated ventriculoatrial conduction: effects of sequential pacing interval and basic cycle length
Authors: Kuguoglu A. F. , Wallick D. W. , Martin P. J.
Published: December 2017

We studied 1) the effects of pacing interval, 2) the timing of atrioventricular sequential pacing, and 3) the effects of successive premature intervals on retrograde conduction of the atrioventricular (AV) node in open-chest alpha-chloralose-anesthetized dogs. The ventricles and atria were sequentially paced at one of three levels of basic cycle length and one of six sequential time intervals (V1-A1) for three basic cycles (V1-V1). Then a premature ventricular impulse was introduced at various V1-V2 intervals, and the resultant retrograde conduction time (V2-A2 interval) was measured. Successive V1-V2 intervals were applied in an incremental or a decremental fashion. The V1-V2 intervals ranged from V1-V1 to V1-V2, at which the retrograde conduction was blocked. For each level of the above three factors, we plotted retrograde conduction time (V2-A2) as a function of the various premature intervals (V1-V2). We found that the time between atrial and ventricular activations was the most important factor in determining V1-V2 and in decreasing the effective refractory period of the AV node during retrograde conduction.
Limitation of reperfusion injury by a monoclonal antibody to C5a during myocardial infarction in pigs
Authors: Amsterdam E. A. , Stahl G. L. , Pan H. L. , Rendig S. V. , Fletcher M. P. , Longhurst J. C.
Published: December 2017

The complement system has been implicated in reperfusion injury during acute myocardial infarction. We therefore attempted to reduce reperfusion injury with a monoclonal antibody (MAb) to the complement component, C5a. In 13 control pigs and 9 pigs pretreated with this MAb, ischemia was induced by a 50-min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery, followed by 3 h of reperfusion. Infarct area (as percent of risk area) was reduced from 58 +/- 5% in controls to 38 +/- 7% (P < 0.05) in MAb-treated animals. Heart rate-systolic blood pressure product, left ventricular (LV) first derivative of pressure, LV end-diastolic pressure, and coronary blood flow were similar (P > 0.05) in the two groups. At 15 min of reperfusion, immunoreactive factor Bb began to increase significantly (P < 0.05) in regional coronary venous plasma, consistent with activation of the alternative complement pathway. The anti-C5a MAb did not attenuate formation of the membrane attack complex (C5b-9) as assessed by a hemolytic complement assay. Myocardial myeloperoxidase activity, a marker of tissue neutrophil concentration, was similar in the risk regions of the two groups, suggesting that neutrophil infiltration was unaltered by the MAb. However, in vitro the MAb (15 and 30 micrograms/ml) reduced C5a-stimulated neutrophil aggregation (67.4 and 70.9%), chemotaxis (52.5 and 81.4%), degranulation (66.7 and 75.8%), and superoxide generation (26.7 and 100%). In conclusion, myocardial infarction-reperfusion is associated with activation of the alternative complement pathway. Furthermore, a MAb to C5a that inhibits neutrophil cytotoxic activity, but neither the membrane attack complex nor myocardial neutrophil accumulation, decreases infarct size in pigs. These data suggest an important role of the alternative complement pathway and C5a in the propagation of ischemia cardiac damage during reperfusion.
Fixed patterns of bradycardia during late embryonic development in domestic fowl with C locus mutations
Authors: Howe R. S. , Burggren W. W. , Warburton S. J.
Published: December 2017

A predictable late embryonic bradycardia (relative to normal White Leghorn chickens) has been documented in chicken strains with C locus mutations. The basis of the bradycardia remains unknown but clearly is related to a mutation at the C locus, which contains the structural gene for tyrosinase. When compared with the heart rate of normal White Leghorns (approximately 295–305 beats/min from day 8 to day 20 of incubation), ca/ca and other C locus mutants showed a 10–12% reduction in heart rate during the last 4 days of incubation. Embryonic mortality occurred in both mutant and normal strains at an equivalent rate (approximately 23%); a significant bradycardia (when compared with surviving embryos of the same strain) developed on the day before death in White Leghorn but not mutant strains. The bradycardia did not affect embryonic oxygen consumption (approximately 0.2 ml O2.egg-1.min-1 at day 14 and 0.4 ml O2.egg-1.min-1 at day 20), which showed only minor differences between strains that can be attributed to differences in embryonic mass on days 16–20.
Acute cocaine administration alters posttraumatic blood pressure and cerebral blood flow in rats
Authors: Muir J. K. , Ellis E. F.
Published: December 2017

Cocaine abuse is widespread, and it is possible that its two main pharmacological actions, sympathomimetic and local anesthetic, could influence the blood pressure and cerebral blood flow response to brain injury, which occurs with increased frequency in drug abusers. We tested this hypothesis in ventilated barbiturate-anesthetized rats. Brain injury was induced using the fluid-percussion method, and cortical blood flow was measured using laser-Doppler flowmetry. Saline, cocaine, methamphetamine, or lidocaine was administered 10 min before injury. Upon injury, both cocaine- and saline-pretreated rats showed a similar acute hypertensive phase, which was followed by a period of more pronounced hypotension in the cocaine group (68 +/- 4 vs. 100 +/- 6 mmHg). Cortical blood flow increased dramatically 3–15 s following injury-induced hypertension in both the cocaine and saline groups (approximately 230-260%), but then fell below preinjury values within minutes. At 1 h postinjury, the blood flow in the saline group was 53 +/- 6% of the preinjury value, while in the cocaine group, flow was 74 +/- 7% of preinjury baseline. Similar to the cocaine-treated animals, methamphetamine also caused a more pronounced hypotensive event, but blood flow was not significantly different from saline controls. Lidocaine did not alter posttraumatic blood pressure but did significantly elevate blood flow throughout the 1-h postinjury period. At 60 min posttrauma, blood flow in the lidocaine group was 80 +/- 10% of the preinjury value. The mechanism by which cocaine alters blood pressure and blood flow after injury is not entirely certain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Protective effect of hypoxia on mechanical and metabolic changes induced by hydrogen peroxide in rat hearts
Authors: Hara A. , Abiko Y.
Published: December 2017

The effect of hypoxia (20% O2 for 5 min) on the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced myocardial change was studied in the Langendorff rat heart, which was perfused at a constant flow rate and driven electrically. H2O2 decreased the left ventricular developed pressure, increased the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, and decreased the myocardial ATP level. These mechanical and metabolic alterations induced by H2O2 were less prominent in the hypoxia-reoxygenated heart than in the normoxic heart (i.e., hypoxia had a protective effect on the H2O2-induced change). Both 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT), a nonselective adenosine-receptor antagonist, and glyburide (Gly), an inhibitor of the ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel, significantly reduced the protective effect of hypoxia. The adenosine A1-receptor antagonist 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DP-CPX) reduced the protective effect of hypoxia incompletely. Gly, 8-PT, and DPCPX did not affect the mechanical function and energy metabolism of the hypoxia-reoxygenated heart without H2O2. These results suggest that brief and mild hypoxia attenuates the H2O2-induced mechanical and metabolic changes and that the protective effect of hypoxia is probably mediated by activation of the adenosine receptors, which open the KATP channel.
Mast cell degranulation and blood-nerve barrier permeability in rat sciatic nerve after 7 days of hyperglycemia
Authors: Kalichman M. W. , Powell H. C. , Calcutt N. A. , Mizisin A. P.
Published: December 2017

The association between hyperglycemia and altered blood-nerve barrier permeability was examined after 7 days of experimental diabetes. In nerves of rats fed a diet of 40% galactose, permeability to [14C]mannitol [13.43 +/- 2.47 x 10(-5) (SD) ml.s-1.g dry wt-1] and water content [3.43 +/- 0.24 (SD) mg/mg dry wt] were significantly increased compared with control (9.24 +/- 2.09 x 10(-5) ml.s-1.g dry wt-1 and 2.15 +/- 0.28 mg/mg dry wt) and streptozotocin-diabetic animals (8.43 +/- 2.94 x 10(-5) ml.s.-1.g dry wt-1 and 2.35 +/- 0.56 mg/mg dry wt). Electron microscopy revealed significant increases in the number of degranulating perivascular mast cells and in an index of vasoconstriction in galactose-treated rats (3.8 +/- 1.6 and 0.160 +/- 0.062, respectively) compared with control (0.5 +/- 0.8 and 0.072 +/- 0.017, respectively) and diabetic animals (1.4 +/- 1.7 and 0.083 +/- 0.033, respectively). The data are consistent with a role for mast cells in permeability changes occurring after only 7 days of galactose intoxication.
Cholesterol distribution in rat heart myocytes
Authors: Shmeeda H. , Petkova D. , Barenholz Y.
Published: December 2017

Cholesterol oxidase was used to investigate the distribution of free cholesterol between plasma membrane and intracellular pools in cultured neonatal rat heart myocytes. Only 20% of the total unesterified cholesterol was converted to delta 4-cholestenone by cholesterol oxidase in intact cells. With increasing age in culture and concurrent hypertrophy, there was an increase in unesterified cellular cholesterol and plasma membrane cholesterol; their relative distribution remained unchanged. Electron micrographs of negatively stained samples of day 4 cytosol revealed the presence of vesicles 50–200 nm in diameter. Cholesterol monohydrate crystals were found in the cytosol of hypertrophic day 14 cells. Treatment of day 14 cells with small unilamellar vesicles of egg phosphatidylcholine reduced plasma membrane and intracellular cholesterol levels, resulting in the disappearance of the cholesterol monohydrate crystals and the formation of vesicles smaller than those observed in day 4 cultures.
Coronary neovascularization of embryonic rat hearts cultured in oculo is independent of thyroid hormones
Authors: Rongish B. J. , Torry R. J. , Tomanek R. J.
Published: December 2017

We tested the hypothesis that neovascularization of embryonic hearts is independent of thyroid hormones. To dissociate the effects of hemodynamic load from the direct influence of thyroid hormones on coronary neovascularization, we grafted avascular, gestational day 12 rat hearts to the anterior eye chamber of adult rats receiving daily injections of thyroxine (T4; 0.25 mg/kg sc), propylthiouracil (PTU; 10 mg/kg ip), or saline (control). After 21 days, grafts were perfuse fixed and prepared for transmission electron microscopy. Neither T4 nor PTU treatment affected size or mass of the unloaded graft, or the volume densities of vessels, myocytes, or the extracellular matrix, which were determined by standard point-counting techniques. Thus neither exogenous administration of T4 nor the induction of hypothyroidism in host rats produced a significant effect on the growth or vascularity of the unloaded hearts. We conclude that vascular growth in embryonic rat hearts cultured in oculo is independent of thyroid hormones and that the angiogenic effect of thyroid hormones in loaded hearts is a consequence of increased work-related events.