Adenosine release during ischemia or stress is important in inhibition of oxygen radicals production via receptor-mediated mechanisms. Second messengers involving protein kinase C and phospholipase C are also being studied. The studies utilize isolated hearts, cell cultures of coronary endothelial cells and myocytes as experimental models. The techniques involve HPLC methodology, fluorescence microscopy, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, apoptosis, Western blotting, electron paramagnetic spin resonance spectroscopy. Hemodynamic and biochemical changes as parameters of cell injury.
Calcium preconditioning inhibits mitochondrial permeability transition and apoptosis.