Lack of effect of methylprednisolone on lysosomal and microsomal enzymes after two hours of well-defined canine myocardial ischemia

Effect of L-arginine and L-lysine on lysosomal hydrolases and membrane bound phosphatases in experimentally induced myocardial infarction in rats

The protective effect of L-arginine and L-lysine on lysosomal enzymes and membrane bound ATPases was examined on isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats. Lysosomal enzymes play an important role in the inflammatory process. The rats given isoproterenol (150 mg kg(-1) daily) intraperitoneally for 2 days showed significant changes in the marker enzymes, lysosomal enzymes and membrane bound phosphatases. Histopathological studies also confirmed the induction of myocardial infarction in isoproterenol administered rats. Prior oral treatment with L-arginine (250 mg kg(-1) daily) and L-lysine (5 mg kg(-1) daily) for 5 days significantly prevented these alterations and restored the enzyme activities to near normal. These findings demonstrate the protective effect of L-arginine and L-lysine in combination against isoproterenol induced cardiac damage.

A conscious baboon model for evaluation of hemodynamics in altered gravity

A model was developed for evaluation of cardiovascular parameters in conscious baboons exposed to altered gravitational environments. Baboons were trained to sit quietly in a confinement chair of unique design which allowed a range of normal physical activity. They were then instrumented with high-fidelity blood pressure transducers in the aorta and left ventricle, electromagnetic flow probes encircling the proximal ascending aorta, left and right atrial fluid catheters, left ventricular sonomicrometer crystals in a 3-axis configuration, and a hydraulic occluder cuff encircling the inferior vena cava. Catheters and transducer wires were exteriorized at the midscapular region of the back. Viability of percutaneous exit sites was enhanced by use of velour cuffs on the transducer wires, providing a scaffold for wound healing. Pressure transducers and flow probes were calibrated and balanced during postoperative cardiac catheterization procedures. This instrumentation allowed measurement of beat-to-beat stroke volume and cardiac output not reliant on thermodilution techniques. Postoperative longevity was from 1 to 10 months. Instrumentation failure included endocardial trapping of ventricular pressure transducers, corrosion of ventricular sonomicrometer crystals, and catheter tip thrombosis. Acquisition of high quality data was possible with this model in several different environments of altered gravitational stress, allowing characterization of aortic flow and ventricular performance.

Cardioprotective and antiarrhythmic effects of beta-blockers, propranolol, bisoprolol, and nipradilol in a canine model of regional ischemia

Cardioprotective and antiarrhythmic effects of three beta-blockers with different pharmacological properties were investigated in 33 anesthetized dogs with a 2-h coronary occlusion. Dogs were divided into 4 groups and received physiological saline or one of the following drugs using a 10-min infusion at 25 min before the occlusion: saline or control (n = 12), propranolol (0.3 mg/kg, n = 7), bisoprolol (0.05 mg/kg, n = 7), and nipradilol (0.2 mg/kg, n = 7) groups. Blood pressure did not significantly differ among the 4 experimental groups throughout the entire observation period. On the contrary, the postocclusion change (fall) in heart rate from the preocclusion value was significantly (P less than 0.05-0.01) greater in the drug-treated groups than in the control group. Each of the beta-blockers effectively prevented the development of ventricular arrhythmias associated with the 2-h coronary occlusion. In terms of assessing a cardioprotective effect, the respiratory control index and rate of oxygen consumption in State III in mitochondria, and lysosomal enzyme activities (N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase or beta-glucuronidase) in myocardial tissues, all prepared from both ischemic and non-ischemic areas, were measured using the respective, established methods. The 2-h coronary occlusion induced a mitochondrial dysfunction and leakage of lysosomal enzymes in the control group, whereas each beta-blocker significantly (P less than 0.05-0.01) protected mitochondria against ischemia and prevented the lysosomal enzyme leakage. The results indicate that the antiarrhythmic effects of beta-blockers on ischemic myocardium are, at least in part, due to their cardioprotective action, and these effects appear to be unrelated to the ancillary pharmacological properties of these drugs.

The effects of SUN 1165, a novel sodium channel blocker, on ischemia-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and leakage of lysosomal enzymes in canine hearts

The cardioprotective effect of SUN 1165, a novel sodium channel blocker, was investigated on ischemic myocardium. Nineteen anesthetized dogs were subjected to 2 hours coronary occlusion, and divided into 2 groups. In the control group, physiological saline was infused. In the SUN 1165 group, 2 mg/kg of SUN 1165 was injected intravenously. Two hours after occlusion, heart mitochondria were prepared from both ischemic and non-ischemic areas in each group, and their functions (RCI and St.III O2) were measured polarographically with succinate as a substrate. Fractionation of myocardial tissue from both non-ischemic and ischemic areas was performed according to the method of Weglicki et al., and the activities of lysosomal enzymes (NAG and beta-gluc) were measured. In the control group, mitochondrial dysfunction and leakage of lysosomal enzymes induced by 2 hours occlusion were observed. Administration of SUN 1165 maintained mitochondrial function, and prevented the leakage of lysosomal enzymes caused by ischemia significantly. These results indicated that SUN 1165 has a cardioprotective effect in ischemic heart.

Lipids of myocardial membranes: susceptibility of a fraction enriched in sarcolemma to hydrolysis by an exogenous mammalian phospholipase A2

A myocardial membrane fraction enriched in sarcolemma was used to determine the susceptibility of the lipids to hydrolysis by a phospholipase A2 from granulocytes. After incubation (37 C, pH 7.0, 5 mM Ca2+) with the phospholipase A2 for 30 min, a more than 3-fold increase in unesterified fatty acids was found (up to 47 nmol/mg protein; P < 0.001) relative to a control incubated without phospholipase A2 or Ca2+. This included a 10-fold increase in the arachidonic acid content (up to 42 mol%) and at least a 7-fold increase in lysophosphatidylethanolamine (up to 7.4 mol% total phospholipid-P). However, the exogenous phospholipase did not augment the quantity of lysophosphatidylcholine produced by endogenous phospholipases in the presence of Ca2+ (5 mM). These results demonstrate the in vitro susceptibility of phospholipids of myocardial membranes, particularly phosphatidylethanolamine, to the neutral-active, Ca2+-dependent phospholipase A2 from granulocytes. This work may be relevant to myocardial inflammation and tissue damage during ischemia, where heterolytic injury of the myocardium may occur subsequent to the accumulation of granulocytes.