Mechanisms of Post-Infarct Left Ventricular Remodeling

Heart failure secondary to myocardial infarction (MI) remains a major source of morbidity and mortality. Long-term outcome after MI can be largely be defined in terms of its impact on the size and shape of the left ventricle (i.e., LV remodeling). Three major mechanisms contribute to LV remodeling: 1) early infarct expansion, 2) subsequent infarct extension into adjacent noninfarcted myocardium, and 3) late hypertrophy in the remote LV. Future developments in preventing post-MI heart failure will depend not only on identifying drugs targeting each of these individual mechanisms, but also on diagnostic techniques capable of assessing efficacy against each mechanism.

Noninvasive tracking of cardiac embryonic stem cells in vivo using magnetic resonance imaging techniques

Despite rapid advances in the stem cell field, the ability to identify and track transplanted or migrating stem cells in vivo is limited. To overcome this limitation, we used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect and follow transplanted stem cells over a period of 28 days in mice using an established myocardial infarction model. Pluripotent mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells were expanded and induced to differentiate into beating cardiomyocytes in vitro. The cardiac-differentiated mES cells were then loaded with superparamagnetic fluorescent microspheres (1.63 microm in diameter) and transplanted into ischemic myocardium immediately following ligation and subsequent reperfusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. To identify the transplanted stem cells in vivo, MRI was performed using a Varian Inova 4.7 Tesla scanner. Our results show that (a) the cardiac-differentiated mES were effectively loaded with superparamagnetic microspheres in vitro, (b) the microsphere-loaded mES cells continued to beat in culture prior to transplantation, (c) the transplanted mES cells were readily detected in the heart in vivo using noninvasive MRI techniques, (d) the transplanted stem cells were detected in ischemic myocardium for the entire 28-day duration of the study as confirmed by MRI and post-mortem histological analyses, and (e) concurrent functional MRI indicated typical loss of cardiac function, although significant amelioration of remodeling was noted after 28 days in hearts that received transplanted stem cells. These results demonstrate that it is feasible to simultaneously track transplanted stem cells and monitor cardiac function in vivo over an extended period using noninvasive MRI techniques.

Multi-parameter in vivo cardiac magnetic resonance imaging demonstrates normal perfusion reserve despite severely attenuated beta-adrenergic functional response in neuronal nitric oxide synthase knockout mice

AIMS

The role of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in regulating contractile function remains controversial, and in regulating myocardial perfusion is uninvestigated. We used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to phenotype nNOS(-/-) and wild-type (WT) mice regarding left ventricular (LV) structure, baseline function, beta-adrenergic responsiveness, and perfusion reserve.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Cine MRI showed higher LV mass to end-diastolic volume ratio (2.3 +/- 0.2 mg/microL nNOS(-/-) vs. 1.7 +/- 0.1 mg/microL WT; P=0.032) and LV ejection fraction (64.9 +/- 2.1% nNOS(-/-) vs. 55.8 +/- 1.1% WT; P = 0.003) in nNOS(-/-). Myocardial tagging demonstrated similar baseline systolic circumferential strain (Ecc) in nNOS(-/-) and WT. With dobutamine, the normal change in Ecc was nearly absent in nNOS(-/-) (-0.5 +/- 0.3% nNOS(-/-) vs. -2.2 +/- 0.3% WT; P = 0.001), and the systolic strain rate (dEcc/dt) response to dobutamine seen in WT was reduced in nNOS(-/-) (-29 +/- 13%/s nNOS(-/-) vs. -106+/-16%/s WT; P = 0.001). Diastolic strain rate increased significantly with dobutamine only in WT. Arterial spin labelling showed that baseline perfusion and perfusion reserve with either dobutamine or an adenosine receptor agonist are normal in nNOS(-/-).

CONCLUSION

MRI provides non-invasive in vivo evidence that nNOS does not play a role in basal contractile function or myocardial perfusion, but is required for increasing cardiac inotropy and lusitropy upon beta-adrenergic stimulation.

Quantification and MRI validation of regional contractile dysfunction in mice post myocardial infarction using high resolution ultrasound

A versatile, computationally efficient two-dimensional (2D) speckle-tracking method based on high resolution ultrasound imaging is proposed to quantify regional myocardial dysfunction in mice. Ultrasound scans were performed on the hearts of normal and post myocardial infarction (MI) mice with a Vevo770 scanner (VisualSonics, Toronto, Canada) operating at 30 MHz frequency. Regional myocardial motion was tracked using a 2D minimum sum of absolute differences (MSAD) block-matching algorithm. Motion analyses calculated from ultrasound images were compared with gold-standard analyses performed using small animal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The radial and circumferential components of strain were compared between ultrasound and MRI short axis views and promising correlations were obtained (r = 0.90 and r = 0.85 for radial and circumferential strain, respectively). Therefore, ultrasound imaging, followed by 2D image tracking, provides an effective, low cost, mobile method to quantify murine cardiac function accurately and reliably.

Topoisomerase Inhibition Accelerates Gene Expression after Adeno-associated Virus-mediated Gene Transfer to the Mammalian Heart

Utility of adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV2) vectors for cardiac gene therapy is limited by the prolonged lag phase before maximal gene expression. Topoisomerase inhibition can induce AAV2-mediated gene expression in vivo, but with variable success in different tissues. In this study, we demonstrate that topoisomerase inhibition can accelerate AAV2-mediated gene expression in the mouse heart. We used an AAV2 vector expressing firefly luciferase and monitored expression kinetics using non-invasive bioluminescence imaging. In the group receiving vector alone, cardiac luciferase activity was evident from week 2 onward and increased progressively to reach a steady plateau by 9 weeks postinjection. In the group receiving vector and camptothecine (CPT), luciferase expression was evident from days 2 to 4 onward and increased rapidly to reach a steady plateau by 3-4 weeks postinjection, nearly three times faster than in the absence of CPT (P<0.05). Southern blot analysis of AAV2 genomes in cardiac tissue showed rapid conversion of the AAV2 genome from its single-stranded to double-stranded form in CPT-treated mice. Non-invasive determinations of luciferase expression correlated well with in vitro luciferase assays. Direct injection of the AAV2 vector and long-term luciferase gene expression had no detectable effects on normal cardiac function as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging.

Alterations to myofibrillar protein function in nonischemic regions of the heart early after myocardial infarction

Remote-zone left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) contributes to global reductions in contractile function after localized myocardial infarction (MI). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this form of LVD are not clear. This study tested the hypothesis that myofibrillar protein function is directly affected in remote-zone LVD early after MI. Cardiac myosin and native thin filaments were purified from mouse myocardium taken from both the nonnecrotic zone adjacent to and the nonischemic zone remote from an infarct induced by 1 h of coronary occlusion followed by 24 h of reperfusion. Thin filament velocities were measured using the in vitro motility assay. Results showed that overall function was significantly reduced in samples from both the adjacent (43 +/- 12% of control, n = 7) and remote (53 +/- 8% of control, n = 13) zones when compared with control proteins (P < 0.05). Myosin from the remote zone propelled control thin filaments at reduced velocities similar to those measured above. In contrast, the Ca(2+) sensitivity of remote-zone thin filaments over control myosin was unchanged from control thin filaments (half-maximal at pCa 6.32 +/- 0.08 and 6.27 +/- 0.06, respectively) but showed a 20% increase in velocity at saturating Ca(2+) that parallels an increase in tropomyosin phosphorylation. Myosin dysfunction may be related to oxidation of cysteines in the myosin heavy chains or carbonylation of myosin binding protein-C. We hypothesize that phosphorylation of tropomyosin may serve a compensatory role, augmenting contraction during periods of oxidative stress when myosin function is compromised.

Reperfused myocardial infarction in mice: 3D mapping of late gadolinium enhancement and strain

We developed mathematical modeling tools for mapping 3D infarct geometry from multislice late gadolinium enhancement data, allowing fusion with multislice MR tagging data, in mice with myocardial infarction. Five C57BL/6 mice were imaged at baseline, 1, 7 and 28 days after 60 min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. The 3D infarct geometry was mapped in material coordinates, and registered with 3D strain, showing permanent dysfunction in infarcted segments, intermediate function in the adjacent zone, and maintained function in the remote zone. 3D mapping of late enhancement and strain allows registration of multiple studies in a consistent framework.

High-resolution Myocardial Perfusion Imaging in Mice with High-frequency Echocardiographic Detection of a Depot Contrast Agent

High-resolution methods for assessing myocardial perfusion in murine models of cardiovascular disease are needed. We hypothesized that regional hypoperfusion could be assessed with ultrahigh-frequency myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) and a novel strategy of depot contrast enhancement. MCE was performed with 30-MHz transthoracic imaging 10 seconds and 10 minutes after intravenous administration of microbubbles in control mice, and in mice after left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. MCE was also performed using size-segregated microbubbles. Microbubble behavior in the microcirculation was evaluated with intravital microscopy. In control mice anterior myocardial enhancement was robust at 10 seconds, but left ventricular cavity attenuation precluded evaluation of posterior segments. After 10 minutes, left ventricular cavity signal cleared but myocardial enhancement persisted, permitting analysis of all segments. The degree of enhancement at 10 min was related to microbubble size, implying retention of large microbubbles transiting pulmonary arteriovenous shunts. Intravital microscopy confirmed capillary lodging of large microbubbles. Infarct size by delayed MCE correlated with fluorescent nanospheres (r = 0.94, P < .001). We conclude that complete assessment of regional myocardial perfusion in the mouse heart is possible with high-frequency MCE and a single intravenous contrast agent injection. This technique can be used for characterizing murine models of myocardial infarction and left ventricular remodeling.

Myocardial infarct-sparing effect of adenosine A2A receptor activation is due to its action on CD4+ T lymphocytes

BACKGROUND

We previously used adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) knockout (KO) mice and bone marrow transplantation to show that the infarct-sparing effect of A2AR activation at reperfusion is primarily due to effects on bone marrow-derived cells. In this study we show that CD4+ but not CD8+ T lymphocytes contribute to myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.

METHOD AND RESULTS

After a 45-minute occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery and reperfusion, T cells accumulate in the infarct zone within 2 minutes. Addition of 10 microg/kg of the A2AR agonist ATL146e 5 minutes before reperfusion produces a significant reduction in T-cell accumulation and a significant reduction in infarct size (percentage of risk area) measured at 24 hours. In Rag1 KO mice lacking mature lymphocytes, infarct size is significantly smaller than in C57BL/6 mice. Infarct size in Rag1 KO mice is increased to the level of B6 mice by adoptive transfer of 50 million CD4+ T lymphocytes derived from C57BL/6 or A2AR KO but not interferon-gamma KO mice. ATL146e completely blocked the increase in infarct size in Rag1 KO mice reconstituted with B6 but not A2AR KO CD4+ T cells. The number of neutrophils in the reperfused heart at 24 hours after infarction correlated well with the number of lymphocytes and infarct size.

CONCLUSIONS

These results strongly suggest that the infarct-sparing effect of A2AR activation is primarily due to inhibition of CD4+ T-cell accumulation and activation in the reperfused heart.

3D perfusion mapping in post-infarct mice using myocardial contrast echocardiography

Myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) was used to construct three-dimensional maps of perfusion defects in closed-chest mice, with and without myocardial infarction (MI) induced by permanent coronary ligation. Contiguous, short-axis MCE cine images spanning the heart from apex to base were acquired at 1 mm elevations in each mouse. MCE images at each elevation were color-coded to indicate relative perfusion and were compared with postmortem histology. A strong correlation (R > 0.93) in the size of perfused areas was observed between in vivo measurements and the results of conventional ex vivo tissue staining. 3D multislice and 3D surface renderings of perfusion distribution were created and these perfusion maps also matched well with postmortem histology. These methods provide for the noninvasive determination of the total ischemic region placed at risk by coronary occlusion: this is a critical variable in assessing the potential of novel therapeutic agents to reduce MI size in murine models of ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Stimulation of A2A-adenosine receptors after myocardial infarction suppresses inflammatory activation and attenuates contractile dysfunction in the remote left ventricle

Following myocardial infarction (MI), contractile dysfunction develops not only in the infarct zone but also in noninfarcted regions of the left ventricle remote from the infarct zone. Inflammatory activation secondary to MI stimulates inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) induction with excess production of nitric oxide. We hypothesized that the anti-inflammatory effects of selective A2A-adenosine receptor (A2AAR) stimulation would suppress inflammation and preserve cardiac function in the remote zone early after MI. A total of 53 mice underwent 60 min of coronary occlusion followed by 24 h of reperfusion. The A2AAR agonist (ATL146e, 2.4 μg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally 1, 3, and 6 h postreperfusion. Because of the 1-h delay in treatment after MI, ATL146e had no effect on infarct size, as demonstrated by contrast-enhanced cardiac MRI ( n = 18) performed 24 h post-MI. ATL146e did however preserve global cardiac function at that time by limiting contractile dysfunction in remote regions [left ventricle wall thickening: 51 ± 4% in treated ( n = 9) vs. 29 ± 3% in nontreated groups ( n = 9), P < 0.01]. RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analysis indicated that iNOS mRNA and protein expression were significantly reduced by ATL146e treatment in both infarcted and noninfarcted zones. Similarly, elevations in plasma nitrate-nitrite after MI were substantially blunted by ATL146e ( P < 0.01). Finally, treatment with ATL146e reduced NF-κB activation in the myocardium by over 50%, not only in the infarct zone but also in noninfarcted regions ( P < 0.05). In conclusion, A2AAR stimulation after MI suppresses inflammatory activation and preserves cardiac function, suggesting the potential utility of A2AAR agonists against acute heart failure in the immediate post-MI period.

Effect of modulating cardiac A1adenosine receptor expression on protection with ischemic preconditioning

Activation of A1adenosine receptors (A1ARs) may be a crucial step in protection against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury; however, the use of pharmacological A1AR antagonists to inhibit myocardial protection has yielded inconclusive results. In the current study, we have used mice with genetically modified A1AR expression to define the role of A1AR in intrinsic protection and ischemic preconditioning (IPC) against I/R injury. Normal wild-type (WT) mice, knockout mice with deleted (A1KO−/−) or single-copy (A1KO+/−) A1AR, and transgenic mice (A1TG) with increased cardiac A1AR expression underwent 45 min of left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion, followed by 60 min of reperfusion. Subsets of each group were preconditioned with short durations of ischemia (3 cycles of 5 min of occlusion and 5 min of reperfusion) before index ischemia. Infarct size (IF) in WT, A1KO+/−, and A1KO−/−mice was (in % of risk region) 58 ± 3, 60 ± 4, and 61 ± 2, respectively, and was less in A1TG mice (39 ± 4, P < 0.05). A strong correlation was observed between A1AR expression level and response to IPC. IF was significantly reduced by IPC in WT mice (35 ± 3, P < 0.05 vs. WT), A1KO+/−+ IPC (48 ± 4, P < 0.05 vs. A1KO+/−), and A1TG + IPC mice (24 ± 2, P < 0.05 vs. A1TG). However, IPC did not decrease IF in A1KO−/−+ IPC mice (63 ± 2). In addition, A1KO−/−hearts subjected to global I/R injury demonstrated diminished recovery of developed pressure and diastolic function compared with WT controls. These findings demonstrate that A1ARs are critical for protection from myocardial I/R injury and that cardioprotection with IPC is relative to the level of A1AR gene expression.

Interaction between AT1 and AT2 receptors during postinfarction left ventricular remodeling

The relative contribution of the angiotensin II type 1 and 2 receptors (AT1-R and AT2-R) in postmyocardial infarction (MI) remodeling remains incompletely understood. We studied five groups of C57Bl/6 mice after 1 h of left anterior descending artery occlusion-reperfusion: 1) wild type, untreated ( n = 12); 2) wild type, treated with the AT1-R blocker losartan (10–20 mg·kg−1·day−1 in drinking water) from day 1 to day 28 post-MI ( n = 10); 3) cardiac overexpression of the AT2-R [AT2-transgenic (TG); n = 14]; 4) AT2-TG treated with losartan ( n = 13); and 5) AT2-TG and null for the AT1a-R [AT2-TG/AT1 knockout (KO); n = 10]. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) measured ejection fraction and left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volume (EDVI and ESVI) and mass indexed to weight on days 0, 1, 7, and 28 post-MI. Infarct size was measured on day 1 by late gadolinium-enhanced CMR. Regional myocyte hypertrophy and collagen content were measured on day 28 post-MI. Infarct size was similar among groups. Systolic blood pressure was lowest in AT2-TG/AT1KO. By day 28 post-MI, when corrected for baseline differences, EDVI and ESVI were higher and ejection fraction was lower in wild type than other groups. Ejection fraction was highest and EDVI and mass index were lowest in AT2-TG/AT1KO at day 28. The AT2-TG/AT1KO demonstrated less fibrosis in adjacent regions. Regional myocyte hypertrophy was similar in all groups. The AT1-R and AT2-R are intricately intertwined in post-MI remodeling. Pharmacological blockade of AT1-R is equivalent to AT2-R overexpression in attenuating post-MI remodeling. Genetic knockout of the AT1a-R is additive to AT2-R overexpression, due, at least in part, to blood pressure lowering.

Design Study for a Low Heat Loss Version of the Dover Engine

The paper describes an analytical and hardware design study aimed at evolving a low heat loss version of a current turbocharged production diesel engine, the Ford Dover engine.

The analytical approach was done using the Ford engine simulation program and aimed to establish whether reduction in heat loss would be advantageous for this particular engine. Various levels of insulation were assumed on the piston crown, the cylinder head and the cylinder liner, and the effect on power output and fuel economy was assessed. It was found that reduced heat loss could be implemented without any major design changes and would result in benefits in both power output and fuel economy. New pistons and alterations to the combustion space were then evolved and specified in detail to bring about the desired reduction in heat loss. Thermal analysis of these designs using finite element and other approaches confirmed their suitability.

The paper describes the approach, the various stages in the development of the designs, their assessment, and the predicted performance of the proposed low heat loss Dover engine.

Activated platelets contribute importantly to myocardial reperfusion injury

Platelets become activated during myocardial infarction (MI), but the direct contribution of activated platelets to myocardial reperfusion injury in vivo has yet to be reported. We tested the hypothesis that activated platelets contribute importantly to reperfusion injury during MI in mice. After 30 min of ischemia and 60 min of reperfusion, P-selectin knockout mice had a significantly smaller infarct size than that of wild-type mice (P < 0.05). Platelets were detected by P-selectin antibody in the previously ischemic region of wild-type mice as early as 2 min postreperfusion after 45 min, but not 20 min, of ischemia. The appearance of neutrophils in the heart was delayed when compared with platelets. Flow cytometry showed that the number of activated platelets more than doubled after 45 min of ischemia when compared with 20 min of ischemia or sham treatment (P < 0.05). Platelet-rich or platelet-poor plasma was then transfused from either sham-operated or infarcted mice after 45 and 10 min of ischemia-reperfusion to mice undergoing 20 and 60 min of ischemia-reperfusion. Infarct size was increased by threefold and platelet accumulation was remarkably enhanced in mice treated with wild-type, MI-activated platelet-rich plasma but not in mice receiving either platelet-poor plasma from wild types or MI-activated platelet-rich plasma from P-selectin knockout mice. In conclusion, circulating platelets become activated early during reperfusion and their activation depends on the duration of the preceding coronary occlusion and is proportional to the extent of myocardial injury. Activated platelets play an important role in the process of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, and platelet-derived P-selectin is a critical mediator.

Black blood gradient echo cine magnetic resonance imaging of the mouse heart

A black blood gradient echo sequence for multiphase cardiac MRI of the mouse heart was implemented on a 4.7-T scanner and compared to a conventional bright blood sequence. Black blood was achieved using the double inversion recovery technique. Ten mice were imaged using both the bright and the black blood sequences, and 2 of the mice were additionally imaged using bright and black blood sequences modified to perform myocardial tagging. Manual planimetry of the images was performed by two independent observers to detect the endocardial and epicardial borders and subsequently to compute chamber volumes and myocardial mass. Weight of the excised left ventricle was used as a gold standard for myocardial mass. Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated reduced interobserver variability for the measurement of cardiac volumes using the black blood sequence compared to the bright blood sequence (95% confidence interval was -0.89-0.73 microL for black blood versus -1.86-1.28 microL for bright blood). Also, Bland-Altman analysis showed that the black blood sequence provides improved accuracy for the measurement of myocardial mass compared to the bright blood sequence (average difference between MRI versus weight was 0.9 microg for black blood and -11.2 microg for bright blood, P < 0.01). For myocardial tagging, qualitative assessment demonstrated improved endocardial border definition using the black blood sequence. Black blood cine MRI in mice provides reduced interobserver variability and improved accuracy for the measurement of myocardial volumes and mass compared to the conventional bright blood technique.

The angiotensin II type 2 receptor and improved adjacent region function post-MI

Angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2-R) overexpression in the mouse heart preserves left ventricular (LV) size and global LV function during post-MI remodeling. We hypothesized that CMR tagging would localize regional improvements in myocardial function during post-MI remodeling in AT2-R cardiac overexpressed transgenic mice (TG), which could explain the preservation of global LV function post-MI. Six male wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice and 10 TG mice were studied by CMR at baseline (day 0) and days 1, 7, and 28 post-MI. MI was induced by 1 hour occlusion of the LAD followed by reperfusion. On day 1 post-MI, gadolinium-DTPA was injected to assess infarct size. LV size and function was assessed by cine CMR. Mean % circumferential shortening (%CS) was calculated within infarcted, adjacent, and remote regions at each time point in WT and TG mice. Quantitative interstitial collagen and mean myocyte cross-sectional area was measured postmortem at day 28 post-MI. LV end-systolic volume was lower and ejection fraction higher at baseline in the TG group and these differences were maintained post-MI. Within infarcted and remote zones, although %CS was higher in TG mice at day 0, there was no difference by day 28 between groups. Within adjacent regions, while there was no difference at day 0 or 1 in TG vs. WT, %CS was significantly higher in TG mice by day 7, and these changes persisted out to day 28 post-MI. Regional interstitial collagen and myocyte size were similar between groups. Thus, myocardial tagging can detect regional differences in contractile function post-MI in TG mice, and AT2-R overexpression is associated with improved contractile function in adjacent noninfarcted myocardium.

Infarct-sparing effect of A2A-adenosine receptor activation is due primarily to its action on lymphocytes

BACKGROUND

A2A-adenosine receptor (A2AAR) activation on reperfusion after ischemia reduces the size of myocardial infarction, but the mechanism of action has not been fully defined.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We created chimeric mice by bone marrow transplantation from A2AAR-knockout or green fluorescent donor mice to irradiated congenic C57BL/6 (B6) recipients. In the GFP chimeras, we were unable to detect green fluorescent-producing cells in the vascular endothelium, indicating that bone marrow-derived cells were not recruited to endothelium at appreciable levels after bone marrow transplantation and/or acute myocardial infarction. Injection of 5 or 10 microg/kg of a potent and selective agonist of A2AAR, ATL146e, had no effect on hemodynamic parameters but reduced infarct size in B6 mice after 45 minutes of left anterior descending artery occlusion followed by 24 hours of reperfusion to 42.5+/-3.0% and 39.3+/-4.7% of risk region, respectively, compared with 61.0+/-2.3% in vehicle-treated B6 mice (P<0.05). Myocardial myeloperoxidase activity in the risk region measured at 4 hours after reperfusion was significantly reduced by ATL146e. The salutary effects of ATL146e were absent in A2AAR-knockout mice or in mice treated with a selective A2AAR antagonist, ZM241385. ATL146e also reduced infarct size and myeloperoxidase in B6/B6 (donor/recipient) chimeras (P<0.05) but not in A2AAR-knockout/B6 chimeras. In immunocompromised Rag-1-KO mice, infarct size was significantly reduced compared with B6 mice but was not further reduced by ATL146e.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that A2AAR activation on bone marrow-derived cells, specifically T or B lymphocytes, is responsible for the infarct-sparing and antiinflammatory effects of ATL146e administered at the time of reperfusion after coronary occlusion.

The effect of Viagra (sildenafil citrate) on liver injury caused by chronic ethanol intragastric feeding in rats

Rats fed with ethanol and a nutritious diet intragastrically develop liver pathologic changes associated with cyclic elevation of blood and urinary ethanol levels (BAL and UAL cycle). At the peaks of the UAL cycle, the livers are hypoxic. When the liver portal hepatic blood flow is temporarily clamped for 2 min and then released, the livers at the peak UAL fail to recover completely compared to the control livers and the livers at the UAL cycle troughs. Viagra was fed to the ethanol-fed rats to enhance the effects of nitric oxide. Since nitric oxide is known to increase hepatic blood flow, it was anticipated that Viagra would prevent the liver hypoxia at the UAL cycle peaks and also improve the post-clamp recovery from the post-clamp ischemia challenge. Viagra tended to improve the post-clamp recovery of the liver surface pO2 levels of the ethanol-fed rats probably by slowing O2 consumption as result of NO inhibition of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase activity. However, Viagra increased the pathology score when fed with ethanol. For this reason, Viagra is a two-edged sword. On the one hand, it tended to be protective in the post-ischemic injury in the ethanol-fed rats and on the other hand, it enhanced the liver injury caused by ethanol. Viagra did not affect the UAL cycle.

Uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation prevents the urinary alcohol level cycling caused by feeding ethanol continuously at a constant rate

The mechanism of the UAL cycle in the intragastric feeding model of alcoholic liver disease in the rat was investigated by administering dinitrophenol (DNP) with ethanol in the diet. The question was: is the rate of oxidative phosphorylation fluxuation essential for the cycle to occur? The question has been partially answered by showing that rotenone, which inhibits complex I, blocks the cycle by preventing the generation of NAD from NADH. This would inhibit ATP generation from complex I but would not affect oxidative phosphorylation by complex 2 and 3. Since the rate of O2 consumption is normal at the troughs of the cycle and decreases at the peaks of the cycle and the levels of ATP are reduced at the peaks of the cycle, it is likely that the rate of oxidative phosphorylation also cycles. Since 2-4 dinitrophenol (DNP) uncouples oxidative phosphorylation, it was anticipated that feeding it with ethanol would prevent the cycle from occurring. This proved to be the case. In addition, DNP caused energy wasting and prevented the increase in serum alanine aminotranspeptidase caused by ethanol feeding, probably by preventing the hypoxia which occurs at the peaks of the cycle.

The effect of rotenone on the urinary ethanol cycle in rats fed ethanol intragastrically

Chronic ethanol ingestion alters mitochondrial function in the liver including inhibition of complex I of the electron transport chain. This leads to a shift in the NAD/NADH ratio to the reduced state when blood ethanol levels are high. Rotenone also inhibits complex I and induces a reduced state. The combination of ethanol feeding and rotenone toxicity should amplify the reduced state and block the cyclic increase and decrease in the rate of metabolism in the liver. The change in the redox state occurs during the urinary ethanol cycle in the intragastric tube feeding rat model of alcoholic liver disease. To test this hypothesis, rats were fed ethanol with rotenone and the 24-h urinary ethanol levels were measured daily. When ethanol was fed alone, the urinary ethanol cycle occurred. However, when ethanol was fed with rotenone the cycle was prevented and the urinary ethanol levels remained at the 200-mg% range. The rats fed ethanol or fed ethanol plus rotenone had the same increase in the pathology score and ALT elevations in the blood. Rotenone fed alone had the same normal values as the dextrose pair fed control rats. The results indicate that the UAL cycle is driven by fluctuation in the NAD/NADH ratio. When this fluctuation is blocked by rotenone, the cycle does not occur. It is concluded that the urinary ethanol cycle is dependent on cyclic fluctuation of the NAD/NADH ratio, which regulates the rate of ethanol elimination.

Measurement of myocardial mechanics in mice before and after infarction using multislice displacement-encoded MRI with 3D motion encoding

Cardiac MRI is an accurate, noninvasive modality for assessing the structure and function of the murine heart. In addition to conventional imaging, MRI tissue tracking methods can quantify numerous aspects of myocardial mechanics, including intramyocardial displacement, strain, twist, and torsion. In the present study, we developed and applied a novel pulse sequence based on displacement-encoded imaging using stimulated echoes (DENSE) that achieves multislice coverage, high spatial resolution, and three-dimensional (3D) displacement encoding. With the use of this technique, myocardial mechanics of C57Bl/6 mice were measured at baseline and 1 day after experimental myocardial infarction. At baseline, the mean systolic transmural circumferential strain was -0.14 +/- 0.02 and the mean systolic radial strain was 0.30 +/- 0.05. Changes in circumferential and radial strains from the subepicardium to the subendocardium were detected at baseline (P < 0.05). One day after infarction, significantly reduced 3D displacements and strain were detected in infarcted and noninfarcted myocardium. Infarction also reduced normalized systolic torsion from its baseline value of 1.35 +/- 0.27 degrees /mm (R = 0.99) to 0.07 +/- 0.54 degrees /mm (R = 0.96, P < 0.05). DENSE MRI can assess the 3D myocardial mechanics of the murine heart in <1 h of scan time at 4.7 T and may be applied to studies of myocardial mechanics in genetically engineered mice.

Complementary displacement-encoded MRI for contrast-enhanced infarct detection and quantification of myocardial function in mice

MRI is emerging as an important modality for assessing myocardial function in transgenic and knockout mouse models of cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction (MI). Displacement encoding with stimulated echoes (DENSE) measures myocardial motion at high spatial resolution using phase-reconstructed images. The current DENSE technique uses inversion recovery (IR) to suppress T(1)-relaxation artifacts; however, IR is ill-suited for contrast-enhanced infarct imaging in the heart, where multiple T(1) values are observed. We have developed a modified DENSE method employing complementary acquisitions for T(1)-independent artifact suppression. With this technique, displacement and strain are measured in phase-reconstructed images, and contrast-enhanced regions of infarction are depicted in perfectly coregistered magnitude-reconstructed images. The displacement measurements and T(1)-weighted image contrast were validated with the use of a rotating phantom. Modified DENSE was performed in mice (N = 9) before and after MI. Circumferential (E(cc)) and radial (E(rr)) strain were measured, and contrast-enhanced infarcted myocardium was detected by DENSE. At baseline, E(cc) was -0.16 +/- 0.01 and E(rr) was 0.39 +/- 0.07. After MI, E(cc) was 0.04 +/- 0.02 and E(rr) was 0.03 +/- 0.04 in infarcted regions, whereas E(cc) was -0.12 +/- 0.02 and E(rr) was 0.38 +/- 0.09 in noninfarcted regions. In vivo E(cc) as determined by DENSE correlated well with E(cc) obtained by conventional tag analysis (R = 0.90).