Cardiovascular-sympathetic adjustments to nonexertional heat stress in mature and senescent Fischer 344 rats

Cardiovascular and thermoregulatory dysregulation over 24 h following acute heat stress in rats

The influences of severe heat stroke (HS) on cardiovascular function during recovery are incompletely understood. We hypothesized that HS would elicit a heart rate (HR) increase persisting through 24 h of recovery due to hemodynamic, thermoregulatory, and inflammatory events, necessitating tachycardia to support mean arterial pressure (MAP). Core temperature (Tc), HR, and MAP were measured via radiotelemetry in conscious male Fischer 344 rats (n = 22; 282.4 ± 3.5 g) during exposure to 37°C ambient temperature until a maximum Tc of 42.0°C, and during recovery at 20°C ambient temperature through 24 h. Rats were divided into Mild, Moderate, and Severe groups based on pathophysiology. HS rats exhibited hysteresis relative to Tc with HR higher for a given Tc during recovery compared with heating (P < 0.0001). "Reverse" hysteresis occurred in MAP with pressure during cooling lower than heating per degree Tc (P < 0.0001). Mild HS rats showed tachycardia [P < 0.01 vs. control (Con)] through 8 h of recovery, elevated MAP (P < 0.05 vs. Con) for the initial 5 h of recovery, with sustained hyperthermia (P < 0.05 vs. Con) through 24 h. Moderate HS rats showed significant tachycardia (P < 0.01 vs. Con), normal MAP (P > 0.05 vs. Con), and rebound hyperthermia from 4 to 24 h post-HS (P < 0.05 vs. Con). Severe HS rats showed tachycardia (P < 0.05 vs. Con), hypotension (P < 0.01 vs. Con), and hypothermia for 24 h (P < 0.05 vs. Con). Severe HS rats showed 14- and 12-fold increase in heart and liver inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, respectively. Hypotension and hypothermia in Severe HS rats was consistent with inducible nitric oxide synthase-mediated systemic vasodilation. These findings provide mechanistic insight into hemodynamic and thermoregulatory impairments during 24 h of HS recovery.

Cardiovascular and thermoregulatory biomarkers of heat stroke severity in a conscious rat model

Multiorgan failure is a catastrophic consequence of heat stroke (HS) and considered the underlying etiology of mortality. Identifying novel biomarkers capable of predicting the extent of HS-induced organ damage will enhance point-of-care triage and treatment. Conscious male F344 rats ( n = 32) were radiotelemetered for continuous core temperature (Tc), heart rate, and arterial pressure measurement. Twenty-two animals were exposed to ambient temperature of 37°C to a maximum Tc of 41.9 ± 0.1°C. Rats were euthanized at 24 h of recovery for analysis of plasma biomarkers [cardiac troponin I (cTnI), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin, glucose] and histology. Tc profiles observed during recovery stratified HS severity into Mild, Moderate, and Severe. Eleven (50%) animals exhibited an acute compensatory hemodynamic response to heat exposure and a monophasic Tc profile consisting of sustained hyperthermia (∼1°C). Five (23%) rats displayed hemodynamic challenge and a biphasic Tc profile with rapid return to baseline followed by rebound hyperthermia. All biomarkers were significantly altered from control values ( P < 0.05). Four (18%) animals exhibited significant hemodynamic compromise during heat and a triphasic profile characterized by rapid cooling to baseline Tc, rebound hyperthermia, and subsequent hypothermia (∼35°C) through 24 h. cTnI showed a 40-fold increase over CON ( P < 0.001) and correlated with BUN ( r = 0.912) consistent with cardiorenal failure. Hypoglycemia correlated with ALT ( r = 0.824) suggestive of liver dysfunction. Histology demonstrated myocardial infarction, renal tubular necrosis, and acute liver necrosis. Two (9%) animals succumbed during HS recovery. This study identified novel biomarkers that predict HS severity and organ damage during acute recovery that could provide clinical significance for identifying key biomarkers of HS pathogenesis.

Myocardial accumulation and localization of the inducible 70-kDa heat shock protein, Hsp70, following exercise

Exercise increases the 70-kDa heat shock protein (Hsp70) in the myocardium, and this exercise-induced increase is associated with significantly improved cardiac recovery following insult. However, while heat shock has been shown to elevate Hsp70 primarily in the cardiac vasculature of the myocardium, the localization following exercise is unknown. Male Sprague-Dawley rats performed continuous treadmill running at 30 m/min for 60 min (2% incline) on either 1 or 5 consecutive days. At 30 min and 24 h following exercise, hearts were extirpated, and the left ventricle was isolated, OCT-cork mounted, and sectioned for immunofluorescent analysis. Whereas immunofluorescent analysis revealed little to no Hsp70 in control hearts and 30 min postexercise, the accumulation of Hsp70 24 h after a single exercise bout or 5 days of training was predominantly located in large blood vessels and, in particular, colocalized with a marker of smooth muscle. Furthermore, higher core temperatures attained during exercise led to more abundant accumulation in smaller vessels and the endothelium. It is concluded that the accumulation of myocardial Hsp70 following acute exercise predominantly occurs in a cell type-specific manner, such that changes in the cardiac vasculature account for much of the increase. This accumulation appears first in the smooth muscle of larger vessels and then increases in smaller vessels and the endothelium, as core temperature attained during exercise increases. This finding supports the observations after heat shock and further suggests that the vasculature is a primary target in exercise-induced cardioprotection.

Dysregulation of hepatic iron with aging: implications for heat stress-induced oxidative liver injury

Environmental heat stress is associated with an age-related increase in hepatic oxidative damage and an exaggerated state of oxidative stress. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the regulation of hepatic iron after heat stress. A secondary aim was to determine a potential role for iron in heat stress-induced liver injury. Hyperthermia-induced alterations in hepatic iron were evaluated in young (6 mo) and old (24 mo) Fischer 344 rats by exposing them to a two-heat stress protocol. Livers were harvested at several time points after the second heating and assayed for labile and nonheme iron. In the control condition, there was no difference in labile iron between age groups. Both labile iron and storage iron were not altered by hyperthermia in young rats, but both were increased immediately after heating in old rats. To evaluate a role for iron in liver injury, hepatic iron content was manipulated in young and old rats, and then both groups were exposed to heat stress. Iron administration to young rats significantly increased hepatic iron content and ferritin but did not affect markers of lipid peroxidation under control conditions or after heat stress. In old rats, iron chelation with deferoxamine prevented the increase in nonheme iron, labile iron, ferritin, and lipid peroxidation after heat stress. These results suggest that iron may play a role in hepatic injury after hyperthermia. Thus, dysregulation of iron may contribute to the gradual decline in cellular and physiological function that occurs with aging.

Cell senescence in rat kidneys in vivo increases with growth and age despite lack of telomere shortening

BACKGROUND

Somatic cells in vitro have a finite life expectancy before entering a state of senescence, but it is unclear whether this state occurs in vivo in kidney development, growth, and aging. We previously showed that human kidney cortex displays telomere shortening with age. In this study, we compared the structural and functional changes in rat kidney with age to phenomena associated with cellular senescence in vitro.

METHODS

We assessed the changes in Fischer 344 rat kidneys from age 1 to 9 months to define growth and development and from age 9 to 24 months to define aging.

RESULTS

Rat kidney telomeres were approximately 35 to 40 kb long and did not shorten significantly. Expression of mRNA for p16INK4a, a characteristic senescence gene in vitro, was undetectable in most young rats but rose 27 fold during growth and a further 72-fold during aging. p16INK4a protein was localized to the nucleus and increased with age. p16INK4a mRNA also increased in other tissues. Lipofuscin and senescence-associated beta-galactosidase increased in epithelium with growth and aging and their occurrence was significantly associated with each other. Lipofuscin was particularly found in atrophic nephrons.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that cell senescence occurs in both growth and aging in rat kidney and may contribute to the age-related pathology. These changes are not due to telomere shortening, but may reflect cumulative environmental stress.