bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cat brain cytochrome-c oxidase redox changes induced by hypoxia after blood-fluorocarbon exchange transfusion
Authors: Ferrari M. , Williams M. A. , Wilson D. A. , Thakor N. V. , Traystman R. J. , Hanley D. F.
Published: December 2017

We used rapid-scanning near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy (730-960 nm) to study the effects of graded or acute hypoxia on cerebral cytochrome-c oxidase (cyt aa3) redox state in blood-perfluoro-carbon-exchanged cats with somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) monitoring. In graded hypoxia [10 min each at fractional inspiratory O2 concentration (FIO2) 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, and 0.5], cyt aa3 reduction occurred at FIO2 0.6 when cerebral O2 delivery was < 3.5 ml.100 g-1.min-1. In acute hypoxia (FIO2 0.6 for 10 min), significant cyt aa3 reduction occurred from 5 to 10 min (cerebral O2 delivery 3.1 +/- 0.3 ml.100 g-1.min-1) and recovered with reoxygenation (FIO2 1.0). Cyt aa3 redox changes preceded or coincided with SEP alterations in both hypoxia protocols. These results demonstrate that cerebral cyt aa3 reduction occurs with severe reduction of cerebral O2 delivery, but no significant change in cerebral cyt aa3 redox state occurs with small reductions of cerebral O2 delivery. We conclude that substantial changes in cerebral cyt aa3 do not occur at physiological levels of O2 delivery and that current NIR clinical instruments would detect oxygen-dependent cerebral cyt aa3 redox changes only when O2 delivery is extremely compromised.
Dopamine depletion protects striatal neurons from heatstroke-induced ischemia and cell death in rats
Authors: Lin M. T. , Kao T. Y. , Chio C. C. , Jin Y. T.
Published: December 2017

To explore the importance of brain dopamine in the heatstroke-induced striatal ischemia and neuronal injury, we compared the temporal profile of the heatstroke-induced striatal extracellular dopamine release, striatal blood flow, and striatal neuronal loss in rats with or without striatal dopamine depletion produced by 6-hydroxydopamine. In vivo voltammetry was used in rats to measure changes in extracellular concentrations of dopamine in the corpus striatum. Striatal neuronal damage was rated on a scale from zero to three (0, no damage; 3, maximum cell loss). The autoradiographic diffusible tracer technique was used for the measurement of striatal blood flow. After the onset of heatstroke, the heatstroke rats without brain dopamine depletion displayed hyperthermia, decreased mean arterial pressure, increased intracranial pressure, decreased cerebral perfusion pressure, decreased striatal blood flow, increased striatal dopamine release, and increased score of striatal neuronal damage as compared with those of normothermic controls. However, when the striatal dopamine system was destroyed by 6-hydroxydopamine, the heatstroke-induced arterial hypotension, intracranial hypertension, ischemic damage to the striatum, and elevated striatal dopamine release were reduced. In addition, the survival time of the heatstroke rats was prolonged after depleting striatal dopamine. Thus it appears that dopamine depletion protects striatal neurons from heatstroke-induced ischemia and cell death.
Adenosine potentiates flow-induced dilation of coronary arterioles by activating KATP channels in endothelium
Authors: Kuo L. , Chancellor J. D.
Published: December 2017

Coronary microvascular diameter is significantly influenced by adenosine and flow. However, the interaction between these two regulatory mechanisms in the control of coronary microvascular tone remains unknown. Because adenosine can activate ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels and these channels are located on the endothelium in addition to vascular smooth muscle, we hypothesized that adenosine can potentiate flow-induced vasodilation by activating endothelial KATP channels in the coronary microcirculation. To test this hypothesis, experiments were performed in porcine subepicardial coronary arterioles (50-150 microns) using isolated, cannulated vessel techniques to allow intraluminal pressure and flow to be independently controlled. All vessels developed active tone, approximately 67-73% of maximum diameter, at 60 cmH2O intraluminal pressure and showed graded dilation to stepwise increases in flow. The magnitude of flow-induced dilation was potentiated by a threshold dose of adenosine (10(-10) M) but not by nitroprusside (10(-10) M). Luminal application of a high K+ concentration ([K+]) (40 mM) completely blocked flow-induced arteriolar dilation. In addition, luminal glibenclamide (10(-6) M) abolished the adenosine-potentiated component of flow-induced response. Indomethacin (10(-5) M) did not alter the dose-dependent dilation to adenosine. However, endothelial denudation, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (10(-5) M), and luminal administration of a high [K+] or glibenclamide each produced identical inhibition of adenosine-induced vasodilation by shifting the 50% effective dose to the right by an order of magnitude. In contrast, vasodilation in response to nitroprusside was not altered by these pharmacological interventions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Long-term electrical stimulation of rabbit skeletal muscle increases growth of paired arteries and veins
Authors: Adair T. H. , Hang J. , Wells M. L. , Magee F. D. , Montani J. P.
Published: December 2017

We tested whether chronic stimulation of skeletal muscle can increase the growth of paired arteries and veins in rabbit extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDL). The right EDL of female New Zealand White rabbits was stimulated via the common peroneal nerve at 10 Hz using 300 microseconds square waves at 3-4 V. Two-hour periods of stimulation was alternated with 4-h periods of rest, 7 days/wk for approximately 60 days. The left EDL served as control. The hindlimb vascular system was maximally dilated and perfuse-fixed with 3% glutaraldehyde and 2% paraformaldehyde at arterial and venous pressures of 80-100 and 15-20 mmHg, respectively. Muscles were postfixed in OsO4 and embedded in EPOX 812 resin. One millimeter-thick transverse sections were cut at uniform locations through the entire breadth of the muscle and analyzed using videomicroscopy along with computerized morphometric and stereological techniques. All paired arteries and veins on each full muscle section were analyzed. Chronic muscle stimulation caused the wall volume of paired arteries and veins to increase by an average of approximately twofold and the lumen volume to increase by an average of approximately threefold compared with the contralateral muscles. The wall-to-lumen area ratio of the arteries and veins was not affected. Muscle stimulation also caused the numerical density of arteries having a diameter > 100 microns to increase by approximately fourfold and the density of veins having a perimeter > 500 microns to increase by approximately 10-fold.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Comparison of myocardial ATP, blood flow, and cytosolic adenosine in demand ischemia and coronary occlusion
Authors: Kroll K. , Martin G. V.
Published: December 2017

To investigate the relationship between flow and energy metabolism during coronary underperfusion, regional myocardial ATP content, cytosolic adenosine concentrations, and blood flow were measured during segmental coronary artery occlusion (complete ligation, n = 10) and demand ischemia (catecholamines plus atrial pacing with subtotal stenosis, n = 6) in halothane anesthetized open-chest dogs. During coronary occlusion or demand ischemia, L-homocysteine thiolactone was infused for 20 min, after which left ventricular tissue was rapidly frozen and analyzed for regional blood flow (microspheres) and content of ATP and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), an index of cytosolic adenosine. In nonischemic regions, ATP and SAH contents in both groups were the same as in unstimulated control animals with intact coronary circulation (n = 7), indicating that adrenergic stimulation during unrestricted flow had no effect on ATP or cytosolic adenosine. In the ischemic regions of both groups, there were decreases in regional flow, ATP content, and systolic wall thickening, and increases in SAH content. To compare the indexes of energy metabolism in tissue regions receiving equal blood flow, tissue samples were grouped into intervals of equal blood flow (ml.min-1.g-1). At every level of flow, ATP content in demand ischemia was 25-39% higher than in coronary occlusion. Estimates of cytosolic adenosine concentrations (using a mathematical model) in the lowest flow interval averaged 5 microM in demand ischemia, approximately twice as high as in coronary occlusion. It is concluded that in tissue regions receiving equal blood flow, ATP was better maintained and cytosolic adenosine was higher in demand ischemia than in coronary occlusion. The differences in ATP content and cytosolic adenosine were not due to different blood flows but rather to more favorable energy metabolism in demand ischemia.
The role of nitric oxide in the baroreceptor-cardiac reflex in conscious Wistar rats
Authors: Minami N. , Imai Y. , Hashimoto J. , Abe K.
Published: December 2017

The role of nitric oxide (NO) in baroreceptor-cardiac reflex function was examined using a NO synthase inhibitor, N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), in conscious Wistar rats. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart period (HP) relationships were obtained by intravenous injection of graded doses of phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). The baroreflex function was compared before and after L-NAME (10 mg/kg iv), L-NAME (10 mg/kg iv) followed by exogenous NO supplied as SNP (10-20 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 iv), or SNP alone (20 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 iv). To find the effect of changing basal MAP on baroreflex function, the baroreflex function was also examined before and after phenylephrine (8 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 iv) or L-NAME followed by concomitant infusion of SNP and phenylephrine. L-NAME increased basal MAP as well as HP from 104 +/- 1 to 141 +/- 2 mmHg and from 168 +/- 3 to 237 +/- 7 ms, respectively. L-NAME shifted the sigmoid curve in the direction of higher MAP with a significant increase in the gain (gain: control 2.14 +/- 0.15 ms/mmHg, L-NAME 3.70 +/- 0.26 ms/mmHg, P < 0.001). L-NAME together with SNP infusion did not significantly affect the gain, basal MAP, or HP. Infusion of SNP alone shifted the sigmoid curve in the direction of lower MAP but had no significant effect on the gain. An infusion of phenylephrine or L-NAME with concomitant infusion of SNP and phenylephrine increased basal MAP similarly as L-NAME alone did but had no significant effect on the gain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Different effects of histamine H1 and H2 stimulation on left ventricular contractility in pigs
Authors: Cooper D. J. , Schellenberg R. R. , Walley K. R.
Published: December 2017

Histamine decreases ventricular contractility in some settings but increases it in others. To better understand these apparently discrepant results, we measured hemodynamics and left ventricular pressure (Millar catheter) and volume (ultrasonic crystals) in atrially paced, alpha- and beta-antagonist-treated pigs. Histamine was infused (0.5-10 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) before and after H2-antagonist (ranitidine) pretreatment. Changes in left ventricular contractile function were measured as shift of the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship (delta ESPVR) at a pressure of 100 mmHg. We found that at low doses (0.5 and 1 micrograms.kg-1.min-1), histamine significantly decreased delta ESPVR (-1.1 +/- 1.4 ml, P < 0.05) after H2-antagonist pretreatment. At doses above 1 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, histamine increased contractility in a dose-response fashion [maximum effect: 5.1 +/- 3.3 ml, dose resulting in 50% effect (ED50): 0.75 +/- 1.79 micrograms.kg-1.min-1] that was best described using a Hill coefficient of 2. Ranitidine increased the ED50 by approximately one order of magnitude (0.75 +/- 1.79 to 9.50 +/- 2.60 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, P < 0.05). We conclude that in vivo, at higher doses, histamine increases left ventricular contractility via H2-receptor stimulation, whereas at low doses histamine decreases left ventricular contractility, probably via H1-receptor stimulation.
Papillary muscles split in the presence of 2,3-butanedione monoxime have normal energetic and mechanical properties
Authors: Kiriazis H. , Gibbs C. L.
Published: December 2017

A number of studies have used 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM) to avoid myocardial damage when small muscle preparations were cut from large hearts. The present study investigates the mechanical and energetic effects of varying muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) by dissection in physiological saline containing BDM. By use of adult rat hearts, three muscle groups were obtained: whole left ventricular papillary muscles (Whole) and left ventricular papillary muscles split longitudinally in the presence of 30 mM BDM, with removal of approximately 10% (BDMSP1) or 40-50% (BDMSP2) of the muscle (5 animals in each group). The isolated muscle preparations were studied at 27 degrees C and stimulated at 0.167 Hz. The Whole and BDMSP1 preparations had comparable CSAs; in isotonically contracting muscles working against a range of afterloads, work, enthalpy (energy use), and mechanical efficiency (work/enthalpy x 100%) were similar for the two groups. In addition, isometric performance [e.g., developed stress (force/CSA), length-tension relationship, and contraction time course] was also similar for the two groups. The thinner BDMSP2 preparations showed an enhanced mechanical performance compared with the Whole and BDMSP1 groups. This outcome was in accordance with data in the literature documenting a negative correlation between stress and CSA. The results suggest that BDM-split and intact papillary muscles of similar CSA have comparable energetic and mechanical properties.
Influence of brain injury on opioid-induced pial artery vasodilation
Authors: Thorogood M. C. , Armstead W. M.
Published: December 2017

This study was designed to investigate the effect of fluid percussion brain injury on opioid-induced pial artery vasodilation in the newborn pig. Previous observations have shown that brain injury produces pial artery vasoconstriction associated with elevated cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) opioid levels in the piglet. Additionally, opioids produce pial vasodilation that is attenuated by the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA). Anesthetized newborn pigs equipped with a closed cranial window were connected to a percussion device consisting of a saline-filled cylindrical reservoir with a metal pendulum. Brain injury of moderate severity (1.9-2.3 atm) was produced by allowing the pendulum to strike a piston on the cylinder. Methionine enkephalin (Met), an endogenous mu-opioid agonist in physiological and pharmacological concentrations (10(-10), 10(-8), 10(-6) M), produced vasodilation that was attenuated following brain injury (7 +/- 1 vs. 3 +/- 1%, 11 +/- 1 vs. 5 +/- 1% and 16 +/- 1 vs. 8 +/- 1% for 10(-10), 10(-8), 10(-6) M Met before and after injury, respectively, n = 5). Met-induced dilation was associated with increased cortical periarachnoid CSF guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP), and these biochemical changes were blunted by brain injury (342 +/- 12 and 640 +/- 13 fmol/ml vs. 267 +/- 6 and 321 +/- 17 fmol/ml for control and Met 10(-6) M before and after injury, respectively, n = 5). Leucine enkephalin, an endogenous delta-agonist, induced pial dilation and associated changes in CSF cGMP, which were similarly altered by brain injury.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effects of chemical subendocardial ablation on activation rate gradient during ventricular fibrillation
Authors: Cha Y. M. , Uchida T. , Wolf P. L. , Peters B. B. , Fishbein M. C. , Karagueuzian H. S. , Chen P. S.
Published: December 2017

The mechanism by which an endocardial-epicardial activation rate gradient develops after 1 or 2 min of sustained ventricular fibrillation is unknown. We recorded from electrodes on the epicardium and from hook electrodes in the endocardium in three open-chest control dogs during prolonged ventricular fibrillation. The same recordings were also made in seven dogs after right ventricular subendocardial ablation with Lugol solution and in three dogs after substitution of air for the cavitary blood. The effects of these interventions, i.e., Lugol ablation (n = 2) and the exposure to air (n = 2), on the subendocardial Purkinje fiber transmembrane action potential properties were also evaluated in vitro using microelectrode recording techniques. The in vivo studies showed a significant endocardial-epicardial rate gradient in the control dogs and in dogs that had air substituted for the cavitary blood. In comparison, in dogs that underwent chemical subendocardial ablation, the activation cycle lengths for the endocardium and epicardium were not significantly different. The in vitro studies showed that subendocardial Purkinje fiber action potentials could still be recorded for up to 10 min of exposure to air. In comparison, in the tissues subjected to chemical ablation, no transmembrane action potentials could be recorded from either the Purkinje fibers or superficial ventricular muscle cells. We conclude that the development of an endocardial-epicardial activation rate gradient during prolonged ventricular fibrillation depends on the presence of intact subendocardial Purkinje fibers and ventricular myocytes. The retained cavitary blood is not responsible for the development of the rate gradient.
Relationship between structural and hemodynamic heterogeneity in microvascular networks
Authors: Pries A. R. , Secomb T. W. , Gaehtgens P.
Published: December 2017

The relationship between structural and hemodynamic heterogeneity of microvascular networks is examined by analyzing the effects of topological and geometric irregularities on network hemodynamics. Microscopic observations of a network in the rat mesentery provided data on length, diameter, and interconnection of all 913 segments. Two idealized network structures were derived from the observed network. In one, the topological structure was made symmetric; in another a further idealization was made by assigning equal lengths and diameters to all segments with topologically equivalent positions in the network. Blood flow through these three networks was simulated with a mathematical model based on experimental information on blood rheology. Overall network conductance and pressure distribution within the network were found to depend strongly on topological heterogeneity and less on geometric heterogeneity. In contrast, mean capillary hematocrit was sensitive to geometric heterogeneity but not to topological heterogeneity. Geometric and topological heterogeneity contributed equally to the dispersion of arteriovenous transit time. Hemodynamic characteristics of heterogeneous microvascular networks can only be adequately described if both topological and geometric variability in network structure are taken into account.
Developmental regulation of cytochrome oxidase subunit VIa isoforms in cardiac and skeletal muscle
Authors: Parsons W. J. , Williams R. S. , Shelton J. M. , Luo Y. , Kessler D. J. , Richardson J. A.
Published: December 2017

Physiological requirements for mitochondrial respiration change during fetal and postnatal development of cardiac and skeletal muscle, particularly after the abrupt transition from the hypoxic fetal environment to the oxygen-rich milieu of the neonate. This study defines the pattern of expression of nuclear genes encoding the muscle-specific (H) and non-muscle-specific (L) isoforms of cytochrome oxidase (COX) subunit VIa during pre- and postnatal development of striated muscles in the mouse. In the early embryo, COX VIa-L was the predominant isoform expressed in all tissues. COX VIa-H mRNA was detectable as early as day 8 postcoitum (pc) in the heart, but not until gestational day 14 in skeletal myofibers of the tongue, diaphragm, and other skeletal muscles. At late fetal stages up until birth (days 16-18 pc), COX VIa-L and COX VIa-H were both expressed in striated myocytes, although the L form remained the dominant isoform. In postnatal animals, however, expression of COX VIa-H increased whereas COX VIa-L decreased in a reciprocal manner. Activation of the COX VIa-H gene also was observed during differentiation of nurine myogenic cells in culture and was followed by diminished expression of the COX VIa-L isoform in maturing myotubes, as in the intact animal. We conclude that regulation of nuclear genes encoding subunits of COX is a component of the developmental programs that govern cardiac and skeletal muscle differentiation and maturation in the mammalian fetus and neonate. COX VIa-L, the predominant isoform in all fetal tissues, is gradually replaced by the muscle-specific H isoform in both cardiac and skeletal muscles, although this transition is not complete until after birth.
Short-term control of cardiovascular function: estimation of control parameters in healthy humans
Authors: Toska K. , Eriksen M. , Walloe L.
Published: December 2017

In a previous study, we recorded short-term cardiovascular responses after a steep increase in arterial pressure in healthy humans [Am. J. Physiol. 266 (Heart Circ. Physiol. 35): H199-H211, 1994]. The aim of the present study was to develop a mathematical model of the baroreflex control of arterial pressure, to use this model with the previously recorded data to estimate unknown parameters in the reflex control loop, and then to analyze the overall open- and closed-loop performance of the system by model simulations with use of individual sets of optimal parameters. The mathematical model consists of a heart, a linear elastic arterial reservoir, and two parallel resistive vascular beds. The arterial baroreflex loop is modeled by two separate time domain processing objects, each with its own gain, time constant, and delay, to simulate the action of a sympathetic signal to the peripheral vascular bed and a parasympathetic signal to the heart. In repeated model simulations, the control parameters in the model were systematically adjusted by an automated algorithm that minimized the deviations between the time courses of the cardiovascular variables simulated by the model and the previously recorded responses in each individual. In all 10 subjects, the short-term cardiovascular responses were adequately simulated by using individual sets of parameters in the model. Open-loop transfer functions for arterial pressure control were obtained by using the individual sets of optimal model parameters in new simulation runs. Open-loop gain for arterial pressure control at nearly zero frequency (steady state) was between 0.9 and 4. Model simulations also indicated an underdampened response at 0.05-0.07 Hz in the closed-loop situation in four subjects, corresponding to peaks in the mean arterial pressor power spectra obtained from separate recordings of spontaneous variations in the resting situation.
Annexin VI overexpression targeted to heart alters cardiomyocyte function in transgenic mice
Authors: Gunteski-Hamblin A. M. , Song G. , Walsh R. A. , Frenzke M. , Boivin G. P. , Dorn G. W. , Kaetzel M. A. , Horseman N. D. , Dedman J. R.
Published: December 2017

Annexin VI is a member of a family of Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipid-binding proteins that is expressed in many tissues, including the heart. It is a regulator of membrane-associated events, including the skeletal muscle ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ release channel and the cardiac Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. The potential roles of annexin VI in Ca2+ signaling in cardiac myocytes were evaluated by targeting its overexpression to the hearts of transgenic mice. Expression of full-length human annexin VI cDNA was targeted to the heart using the alpha-myosin heavy chain gene promoter (Subramaniam, A., W. K. Jones, J. Gulick, S. Wert, J. Neumann, and J. Robbins. J. Biol. Chem. 266: 24613-24620, 1991). Five transgenic lines exhibited at least 10-fold overexpression of annexin VI protein in both atria and ventricles. Pathological evaluation indicated mice overexpressing annexin VI had enlarged dilated hearts, acute diffuse myocarditis, lymphocytic infiltration, moderate to severe fibrosis throughout the heart, and mild fibrosis around the pulmonary veins of the lungs. Contractile mechanics of cardiomyocytes isolated from hearts of transgenic animals showed frequency-dependent reduced percent shortening and decreased rates of contraction and relaxation compared with control animals. Cardiomyocytes isolated from transgenic animals had lower basal levels of intracellular free Ca2+ and a reduced rise in free Ca2+ following depolarization. After stimulation, intracellular free Ca2+ returned to basal levels faster in transgenic cells than in cells from control animals. These data demonstrate that the overexpression of annexin VI in the heart disrupts normal Ca2+ homeostasis and suggests that this dysfunction may be due to annexin VI regulation of pumps and/or exchangers in the membranes of cardiomyocytes.
Effects of acidic reperfusion on arrhythmias and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in regionally ischemic rat hearts
Authors: Avkiran M. , Ibuki C. , Shimada Y. , Haddock P. S.
Published: December 2017

We studied the effects of acidic reperfusion on 1) the incidence of ventricular fibrillation (VF) and 2) sarcolemmal Na(+)-K(+)-adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activity. Isolated rat hearts (n = 12/group) were subjected to independent perfusion (15 min) of left and right coronary beds with pH 7.4 buffer followed by zero-flow ischemia (10 min) of the former bed. This was then reperfused for 5 min, with acidic (pH 6.6) buffer for the first 0 (control), 0.5,1,2, or 4 min and with pH 7.4 buffer thereafter. In the control group, 92% of hearts developed VF within 20 s of reperfusion and remained in VF. In the 0.5-, 1-, 2-, and 4-min acidic reperfusion groups, only 17, 17, 42, and 25% of hearts (P < 0.05 vs. control for all groups), respectively, exhibited VF during acidic reperfusion. However, on switching to pH 7.4, VF occurred in a further 50, 58, 0, and 0% of hearts, respectively; thus the overall incidences of VF were 67, 75, 42 (P < 0.05 vs. control), and 25% (P < 0.05 vs. control), respectively. Additional hearts (n = 8/group) were used for cytochemical determination of sarcolemmal Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in both the ischemic/reperfused left ventricular (LV) and the nonischemic right ventricular (RV) free walls. Ischemia (10 min) reduced LV Na2(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity from 110 +/- 8 to 25 +/- 3% of the RV value. After 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 min of acidic reperfusion, LV Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity was 24 +/- 3, 29 +/- 3, 37 +/- 5, 55 +/- 6, and 70 +/- 4, respectively (P < 0.05 vs. 10-min ischemia). No significant recovery of LV Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity occurred following up to 4 min of pH 7.4 reperfusion. In conclusion, 1) at least 2 min of acidic reperfusion is required to achieve sustained protection against VF and 2) the protective mechanism may involve enhanced recovery of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity as well as inhibition of Na+ influx.
Transient outward and delayed rectifier currents in canine atrium: properties and role of isolation methods
Authors: Yue L. , Feng J. , Li G. R. , Nattel S.
Published: December 2017

Although the dog is the principal species used for in vivo studies of atrial arrhythmias, little is known about currents governing canine atrial repolarization. Cells were isolated from dog atria by exposure to collagenase of tissue in vitro (“chunk cells”) and by arterial perfusion (“perfusion cells”). Whole cell voltage clamp revealed transient outward K+ current (Ito1), Ca(2+)-dependent Cl- current (Ito2), and delayed rectifier K+ current (IK). Ito1 recovered rapidly and showed little frequency dependence. Two components of IK were present as follows: a rapidly activating E-4031-sensitive current with marked inward recitification and a slower-activating E-4031-insensitive component. Ito1 and IK resembled corresponding currents previously described in human atrium. Transient outward currents were similar in chunk and perfusion cells, but IK was seen in 4% of chunk cells vs. 99% of perfusion cells (P < 0.001). Suppression of each identified current retarded canine action potential repolarization. We conclude that Ito1, Ito2, and both components of IK are present in dog atrium, IK is much more sensitive to the isolation method than Ito1 or Ito2, and the properties of two important repolarizing currents (Ito1 and IK) previously described in human atrium are similar to those in dog atrium.
ATP-sensitive K+ channel opener pinacidil augments beta 1-adrenoceptor-induced coronary vasodilation in dogs
Authors: Katsuda Y. , Egashira K. , Ueno H. , Arai Y. , Akatsuka Y. , Kuga T. , Shimokawa H. , Takeshita A.
Published: December 2017

The opening of ATP-sensitive K+ (K+ATP) channels contributes to the mechanism of metabolic coronary vasodilation. The aim of the present study was to determine whether K+ATP channel opener pinacidil augments coronary vasodilation induced by beta-adrenoceptor stimulation. In anesthetized dogs, coronary vasodilation in response to intracoronary infusion of a beta 1-adrenoceptor agonist denopamine, selective beta 2-adrenoceptor stimulation with isoproterenol after bisoprolol or nitroglycerin was studied before and during simultaneous intracoronary infusion of pinacidil at a dose of 1 microgram/min, which had no effect on basal hemodynamics. Pinacidil augmented the denopamine-induced increase in coronary blood flow (CBF) from 38 +/- 9 to 66 +/- 16% (P < 0.05) but did not affect the denopamine-induced by isoproterenol or nitroglycerin. Thus pinacidil selectively augmented beta 1-adrenoceptor-mediated coronary vasodilation. These observations suggest that the K+ATP channel opener pinacidil may increase myocardial perfusion during metabolic stress associated with beta 1-adrenoceptor stimulation.
SERCA2a and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase expression are increased in hearts of exercise-trained old rats
Authors: Tate C. A. , Helgason T. , Hyek M. F. , McBride R. P. , Chen M. , Richardson M. A. , Taffet G. E.
Published: December 2017

Aging of rats results in slower activities of calcium transport by cardiac calcium adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase (COX). These enzyme activities are faster after exercise training of previously sedentary old rats. Our purpose was to determine whether the expression of the genes encoding SR calcium ATPase (SERCA2a) or COX is altered by exercise training. Old (24-mo-old) male Fischer 344 rats were assigned to SO (sedentary old) or EO (exercised old) groups and compared with younger (12-mo-old) sedentary rats (SM). EO rats were trained on a treadmill for 8-10 wk. SERCA2a and COX mRNAs were lower (P < 0.05) in SO compared with SM and EO, whereas glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and cardiac alpha-actin mRNAs were similar across groups. The immunoreactive protein contents of cardiac calcium ATPase, cytochrome c, sarcomeric actin, and GAPDH followed the changes, when observed, in mRNA contents. Thus pretranslational mechanisms may be modified in some genes during aging and exercise training of previously sedentary old rats.
Electrophysiological characteristics of cloned skeletal and cardiac muscle sodium channels
Authors: Chahine M. , Deschene I. , Chen L. Q. , Kallen R. G.
Published: December 2017

The alpha-subunit encoding for voltage-gated sodium channels rSkM1 (rat skeletal muscle subtype 1) and hH1 (human heart subtype 1) has been cloned and expressed by various groups under various conditions in Xenopus oocytes and the tsA201 (HEK 293) mammalian cell line derived from human embryonic kidney cells. In this study, we have expressed hH1 and rSkM1 in tsA201 cells for comparison under the same conditions using patch-clamp methods. Our results show significant differences in the current-voltage (I-V) relationship, kinetics of current decay, voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation, and the time constant for recovery from inactivation. We studied several rSkM1/hH1 chimeric sodium channels to identify the structural regions responsible for the different biophysical behavior of the two channel subtypes. Exchanging the interdomain (ID3-4) loops, thought to contain the inactivation particle, between rSkM1 and hH1 had no effect on the electrophysiological behaviors, including inactivation, indicating that the differences in channel subtype characteristics are determined by parts of the channel other than the ID3-4 segment. The data on a chimeric channel in which D1 and D4 are derived from hH1 while D2 and D3 and the ID1-2, ID2-3, and ID3-4 loops are from rSkM1 show that D1 and/or D4 seem to be responsible for the slower kinetics of inactivation of hH1 while D2 and/or D3 appear to contain the determinants for the differences in the I-V relationship, steady-state inactivation (h infinity) curve, and the kinetics of the recovery from inactivation.
Instantaneous diastolic transmitral pressure differences from color Doppler M mode echocardiography
Authors: Greenberg N. L. , Vandervoort P. M. , Thomas J. D.
Published: December 2017

Pulsed and continuous wave Doppler velocity measurements are routinely used in clinical practice to assess severity of stenotic and regurgitant valves or to estimate intracavitary pressures. However, this method only evaluates the convective component of the pressure gradient (based on the velocity measurements) and neglects the contribution of inertial forces that can be important, in particular for flow across nonstenotic valves. Digital processing of color Doppler ultrasound data was used to noninvasively estimate both the convective and inertial components of the transmitral pressure difference. Simultaneous pressure and velocity measurements were obtained in six anesthetized open-chest dogs. The instantaneous diastolic transmitral pressure difference is computed from the M mode spatiotemporal velocity distribution using the unsteady flow form of the Bernoulli equation. The inclusion of the inertial forces ([delta PI]max = 0.90 +/- 0.30 mmHg) in the noninvasive pressure difference calculation significantly increased the correlation with catheter-based measurement (r = 0.15 +/- 0.23 vs. 0.85 +/- 0.08; P < 0.0001) and also allowed an accurate approximation of the peak early filling pressure difference ([delta PC+I]max = 0.95[delta Pcath]max + 0.07, r = 0.92, P < 0.001, error: epsilon C+I ([delta PC+I]max-[delta Pcath]max) = 0.01 +/- 0.24 mmHg, N = 90]. Noninvasive estimation of left ventricular filling pressure differences using this technique will improve the understanding of diastolic filling and function of the heart.
Serum interspecies differences in metabolic pathways of bradykinin and [des-Arg9]BK: influence of enalaprilat
Authors: Decarie A. , Raymond P. , Gervais N. , Couture R. , Adam A.
Published: December 2017

Among the different enzymes responsible for the metabolism of bradykinin (BK), three peptidases look relevant in vivo: kininase I (KI), which transforms BK into its active metabolite, [des-Arg9]BK; kininase II (KII); and neutral endopeptidase, which inactivate BK and [des-Arg9]BK. The in vitro incubation of BK and [des-Arg9]BK in the serum of four species with or without enalaprilat and the quantification of the immunoreactivity of both peptides at different time intervals allowed the measurement of the kinetic parameters characterizing their metabolic pathways. Highly sensitive chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassays were used to measure the residual concentrations of BK and [des-Arg9]BK. Half-life (t1/2) of BK showed significant difference among species: rats (10 +/- 1 s) = dogs (13 +/- 1 s) < rabbits (31 +/- 1 s) < humans (49 +/- 2 s). t1/2 values of [des-Arg9]BK were also species dependent: rats (96 +/- 6 s) < < rabbits (314 +/- 6 s) = dogs (323 +/- 11 s) = humans (325 +/- 12 s). Enalaprilat significantly prevented the rapid BK and [des-Arg9]BK degradation in all species except that of [des-Arg9]BK in rat serum. Relative amount of BK hydrolyzed by serum KII was given as follows: rabbits (93.7 +/- 14.8%) = rats (83.6 +/- 6.7%) = humans (76.0 +/- 7.5%) > dogs (50.0 +/- 3.9%). Its importance in the hydrolysis of [des-Arg9]BK was 5.2 +/- 0.5% in rats < < 33.9 +/- 1.5% in humans < 52.0 +/- 1.1% in rabbits < 65.1 +/- 3.4% in dogs. The participation of serum KI in the transformation of BK into [des-Arg9]BK was dogs (67.2 +/- 5.3%) > > humans (3.4 +/- 1.2%) = rabbits (1.8 +/- 0.2%) = rats (1.4 +/- 0.3%). Finally, no significant difference on t1/2 values for BK and [des-Arg9]BK could be demonstrated between serum and plasma treated with either sodium citrate or a thrombin inhibitor. These results revealed striking species differences in the serum metabolism of kinins that could address at least partially some of the controversial data related to the cardioprotective role of kinins.
Impaired pyruvate oxidation but normal glucose uptake in diabetic pig heart during dobutamine-induced work
Authors: Hall J. L. , Stanley W. C. , Lopaschuk G. D. , Wisneski J. A. , Pizzurro R. D. , Hamilton C. D. , McCormack J. G.
Published: December 2017

We tested the hypothesis that diabetes impairs myocardial glucose uptake and pyruvate oxidation under normal conditions and during a dobutamine-induced increase in work. We also tested the hypothesis that an increase in work would result in a decrease in the levels of malonyl CoA, a potent inhibitor of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT I). Streptozotocin-diabetic micropigs were compared with a nondiabetic control group (n = 8 per group). Triglyceride emulsion, glucose, and somatostatin were infused into the nondiabetic group to create an acute diabetic-like state. In accord with our hypothesis, malonyl CoA decreased significantly with dobutamine in both groups, providing a possible mechanism for increased fatty acid oxidation through relieved inhibition on CPT I. In the absence of dobutamine, glucose uptake and tracer-measured lactate uptake were decreased by 57 and 80%, respectively, in the diabetic group. Dobutamine infusion resulted in similar increases in cardiac contractility, oxygen consumption, and glucose uptake in both groups despite reductions of 50-65% in GLUT-4 and GLUT-1 protein in the diabetic group. Diabetic animals possessed a defect in myocardial pyruvate oxidation, as reflected in increased lactate production, and depressed lactate uptake and pyruvate dehydrogenase activity under control and dobutamine conditions. In conclusion, the major derangement in carbohydrate metabolism in diabetic myocardium was not in glycolysis but, rather, in pyruvate oxidation.
Coronary vascular and endothelial reactivity changes in transgenic mice overexpressing atrial natriuretic factor
Authors: Ku D. D. , Guo L. , Dai J. , Acuff C. G. , Steinhelper M. E.
Published: December 2017

Recent advances in genetic methods permit the introduction of random and defined mutations into the mouse germ line, producing novel mouse strains, some of which affect the heart and vasculature. A TTR-ANF transgenic strain of mice, which constitutively expresses a fusion gene consisting of the transthyretin promoter and the ANF structural gene, has been shown to result in a lifelong elevation of plasma atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and a chronically lowered arterial blood pressure. However, no established method for efficient functional analysis of possible alterations in coronary vascular function in mice has been reported. In the present study, we describe an isolated mouse coronary artery preparation that permits an effective and reproducible evaluation of coronary endothelial and vascular function. Both left main and right coronary arteries (resting luminal diam 70-90 microns) were isolated and pressurized, and changes in luminal diameter were determined by videomicroscopy. The coronary pressure-luminal diameter relationship was not significantly different between TTR-ANF transgenic and nontransgenic littermates. Relaxation of coronaries to 0.1-100 nM ANF was significantly reduced in transgenic [maximum effect (Emax) = 43 +/- 10% (mean +/- SE) of 11 vessels] compared with nontransgenic (Emax = 73 +/- 7%, n = 15) mice. Similarly, the relaxant response to an endothelium-dependent dilator, acetylcholine, but not to endothelium-independent dilators sodium nitroprusside and isoproterenol, was significantly decreased in transgenic (Emax = 46 +/- 10%, n = 12) compared with nontransgenic (Emax = 85 +/- 5%, n = 14) mice. In contrast, the dose-dependent vasoconstriction to endothelin-1, KCl and the thromboxane mimetic U-46619 was not significantly different between the two groups. These results indicate that lifelong ANF elevation in mice is associated with a decreased responsiveness of coronary vasorelaxation to ANF, possibly resulting from receptor downregulation and/or desensitization. Endothelium-dependent relaxation was also significantly depressed in transgenic mouse coronary arteries, but smooth muscle-specific dilation and constriction were not affected. The present findings are consistent with previous studies of TTR-ANF transgenic mice showing that ANF regulates arterial blood pressure and vascular function.
Vascular endothelial growth factor increases hydraulic conductivity of isolated perfused microvessels
Authors: Bates D. O. , Curry F. E.
Published: December 2017

These experiments report the first direct measurement of microvessel permeability coefficients after exposure to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The Landis technique was extended to enable measurement of the resistance of the microvessel wall to water flow, hydraulic conductivity (Lp), on the same microvessel in the frog mesentery during the initial exposure to VEGF (acute) and 24 and 72 h after initial exposure (chronic). Control measurements of Lp showed no change either acutely or chronically. Exposure to 1 nM VEGF rapidly and transiently increased microvessel Lp within 30 s (to 7.8-fold greater than baseline values) and returned to control within 2 min. The baseline Lp was fivefold greater after 24 h than the initial baseline as a result of VEGF perfusion and returned to its original value after 72 h. These experiments confirm the hypothesis that VEGF acts both acutely (over a period of a few minutes) and chronically (over a few hours) to increase microvascular permeability.
ANG II chronically supports renal and lumbar sympathetic activity in sodium-deprived, conscious rats
Authors: Xu L. , Brooks V. L.
Published: December 2017

The hypothesis that chronic elevations in endogenous angiotensin II (ANG II) increase sympathetic outflow in conscious, normotensive rats was tested by determining if acute blockade of ANG II receptors with losartan (10 mg/kg iv) decreases renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), lumbar sympathetic nerve activity (LSNA), or heart rate (HR) more in rats with higher ANG II levels due to a low sodium (LS) diet compared with a control sodium (CS) or high sodium (HS) diet. In LS rats, losartan decreased (P < 0.05) mean arterial pressure (MAP) in two phases: an immediate decrease of 23 +/- 2 mmHg and a slower fall to 35 +/- 4 mmHg below control 40 min postlosartan. Five minutes after losartan, RSNA (149 +/- 13%), LSNA (143 +/- 5%), and HR (109 +/- 2%) were increased (P < 0.05). Despite further falls in MAP, the elevation in RSNA and HR remained constant, and LSNA decreased toward control (119 +/- 4%). After restoration of MAP to basal levels with methoxamine or phenylephrine infusion, RSNA (46 +/- 8%), LSNA (49 +/- 11%), and HR (76 +/- 2%) were suppressed (P < 0.05). In CS rats, losartan also initially decreased (P < 0.05) MAP by 6 +/- 2 mmHg and increased (P < 0.05) RSNA to 129 +/- 13%. When MAP was returned to control, RSNA was decreased (70 +/- 8%; P < 0.05) but less than in LS rats. In contrast, no changes in MAP, RSNA, LSNA, or HR were observed after losartan in HS rats. In conclusion, endogenous ANG II chronically supports RSNA, LSNA, and HR in conscious, normotensive low and normal sodium intake rats.
VEGF induces NO-dependent hyperpermeability in coronary venules
Authors: Wu H. M. , Huang Q. , Yuan Y. , Granger H. J.
Published: December 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the direct effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on microvascular permeability and its signaling mechanisms. The apparent permeability coefficient to albumin was measured in isolated coronary venules. Topical application of VEGF dose-dependently and transiently increased albumin permeability by two- to threefold. Inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine abolished VEGF-induced venular hyperpermeability. Furthermore, because NO exerts vasoactive effects through stimulation of guanylate cyclase (GC) and the subsequent production of guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP), we examined the role of GC and cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) in the mediation of VEGF's action. The permeability response to VEGF was measured in the presence of the selective GC inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-alpha]quinoxalin-1-one and the specific PKG inhibitor KT-5823. Both inhibitors reduced basal permeability and prevented the hyperpermeability response to VEGF. Therefore, we suggest that VEGF modulates microvascular permeability via a signaling cascade involving NO synthesis, GC stimulation, and PKG activation.
Redistribution of intracellular Ca2+ stores after beta-adrenergic stimulation of rat tail artery SMC
Authors: Miyashita Y. , Sollott S. J. , Cheng L. , Kinsella J. L. , Koh E. , Lakatta E. G. , Froehlich J. P.
Published: December 2017

beta-Adrenergic agonists induce the relaxation of vascular smooth muscle by a mechanism that activates the extrusion of Na+ and Ca2+ from the cell. A primary source of contractile Ca2+ resides in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), which releases Ca2+ in response to vasoactive agents through inositol trisphosphate-mediated channels. To determine if smooth muscle relaxation induced by beta 2-adrenergic agonists involves the redistribution of intracellular Ca2+, we studied the effects of isoproterenol (Iso) on freshly isolated, single rat tail artery smooth muscle cells loaded with fura 2, using digital ratiometric fluorescence imaging. Stimulation with 1 microM phenylephrine (PE) or norepinephrine produced phasic and tonic increases in cytoplasmic intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) associated associated with cell shortening. Exposure to caffeine and to Ca2(+)-free solutions eliminated the phasic and tonic components, respectively, from the Ca2+ signal. Intermittent superfusion with PE or caffeine was used to evaluate SR Ca2+ stores after stimulation by Iso. Exposure to 1 microM Iso induced a time-dependent decrease in PE-activated peak and tonic [Ca2+]i without any change in resting [Ca2+]i. Intermittent stimulation with 10 mM caffeine revealed a similar decline in peak [Ca2+]i, indicating Iso-dependent depletion of SR Ca2+ stores. The Ca2+ that remained in the SR after prolonged exposure to Iso (30% of the pre-Iso level by 80 min at 22 degrees C) failed to elicit a contractile response. The cells, perfused with a Na(+)- and Ca2(+)-free medium to block Na+/ Ca2+ exchange, prevented depletion of the SR Ca2+ stores by Iso. We propose that Iso inhibits agonist-mediated Ca2+ influx through sarcolemmal Ca2+ channels and activates Ca2+ redistribution from storage sites in the SR to the extracellular compartment by a mechanism that involves Na+/Ca2+ exchange. These combined effects of Iso facilitate smooth muscle relaxation (and reduce vascular tonus) by reducing the increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+ evoked by vasoconstrictors.