Protective effect of HOE642, a selective blocker of Na+-H+ exchange, against the development of rigor contracture in rat ventricular myocytes

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Na+-H+ exchange (NHE) and HCO3--Na+ symport inhibition on the development of rigor contracture. Freshly isolated adult rat cardiomyocytes were subjected to 60 min metabolic inhibition (MI) and 5 min re-energization (Rx). The effects of perfusion of HCO3- or HCO3--free buffer with or without the NHE inhibitor HOE642 (7 microM) were investigated during MI and Rx. In HCO3--free conditions, HOE642 reduced the percentage of cells developing rigor during MI from 79 +/- 1% to 40 +/- 4% (P < 0.001) without modifying the time at which rigor appeared. This resulted in a 30% reduction of hypercontracture during Rx (P < 0.01). The presence of HCO3- abolished the protective effect of HOE642 against rigor. Cells that had developed rigor underwent hypercontracture during Rx independently of treatment allocation. Ratiofluorescence measurement demonstrated that the rise in cytosolic Ca2+ (fura-2) occurred only after the onset of rigor, and was not influenced by HOE642. NHE inhibition did not modify Na+ rise (SBFI) during MI, but exaggerated the initial fall of intracellular pH (BCEFC). In conclusion, HOE642 has a protective effect against rigor during energy deprivation, but only when HCO3--dependent transporters are inhibited. This effect is independent of changes in cytosolic Na+ or Ca2+ concentrations.

Gap junction uncoupler heptanol prevents cell-to-cell progression of hypercontracture and limits necrosis during myocardial reperfusion

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that chemical interaction through gap junctions may result in cell-to-cell progression of hypercontracture and that this phenomenon contributes to the final extent of reperfused infarcts.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Cell-to-cell transmission of hypercontracture was studied in pairs of freshly isolated adult rat cardiomyocytes. Hypercontracture induced by microinjection of a solution containing 1 mmol/L Ca2+ and 2% lucifer yellow (LY) was transmitted to the adjacent cell (11 of 11 pairs), and the gap junction uncoupler heptanol (2 mmol/L) prevented transmission in 6 of 8 pairs (P=.003), with a perfect association between passage of the LY and transmission of hypercontracture. In the isolated, perfused rat heart submitted to 30 minutes of hypoxia, addition of heptanol to the perfusion media during the first 15 minutes of reoxygenation had a dose-related protective effect against the oxygen paradox, as demonstrated by a reduction of diastolic pressure and marked recovery of developed pressure (P<.001), as well as less lactate dehydrogenase release during reoxygenation (P<.001) and less contraction band necrosis (P<.001) than controls. In the in situ pig heart submitted to 48 minutes of coronary occlusion, the intracoronary infusion of heptanol during the first 15 minutes of reperfusion at a final concentration of 1 mmol/L limited myocardial shrinkage, reflecting hypercontracture (P<.05), reduced infarct size after 5 hours of reperfusion by 54% (P=.04), and modified infarct geometry with a characteristic fragmentation of the area of necrosis. Heptanol at 1 mmol/L had no significant effect on contractility of nonischemic myocardium.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that hypercontracture may be transmitted to adjacent myocytes through gap junctions and that heptanol may interfere with this transmission and reduce the final extent of myocardial necrosis during reoxygenation or reperfusion. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis tested and open a new approach to limitation of infarct size by pharmacological control of gap junction conductance.

Pre-treatment with trimetazidine increases sarcolemmal mechanical resistance in reoxygenated myocytes

OBJECTIVE

Cytoskeletal and sarcolemmal fragility secondary to anoxia may contribute to sarcolemmal rupture and cell death during reoxygenation of cardiomyocytes. This study investigated the influence of trimetazidine (TMZ), a drug with effects on lipid metabolism and cell membranes, on reoxygenation-induced sarcolemmal rupture.

METHODS

Isolated adult rat myocytes were submitted to 60 min of metabolic inhibition and 5 min of hypo-osmotic reoxygenation to simulate reperfusion edema in situ. Cells were allocated to 3 groups of treatment: in one group, TMZ 100 mumol/l was added to both the metabolic inhibition and reoxygenation buffers (group TMZ); another group was submitted to the same treatment but cells had previously been incubated with TMZ 100 mumol/l for 3 h (group TMZ-Pre); a control group underwent metabolic inhibition and hypo-osmotic reoxygenation without any treatment. Cell morphology was monitored throughout the experiment and sarcolemmal integrity was assessed by quantification of LDH activity and trypan blue exclusion test.

RESULTS

After 60 min of metabolic inhibition most cells (83.1 +/- 2%) presented rigor contracture without between-group differences. Reoxygenation resulted in hypercontracture of 84.2 +/- 2.3, 91.2 +/- 1.4 and 84.1 +/- 2.1% of cells in TMZ, TMZ-Pre and control groups, P = NS. The trypan blue exclusion test revealed a higher proportion of cells with sarcolemmal integrity in TMZ and TMZ-Pre groups than in controls (12.7 +/- 2.0, 10.0 +/- 1.5 and 6.3 +/- 0.8%, respectively, P = 0.002). No between-group differences in LDH activity in the extracellular medium were observed at the onset or at the end of metabolic inhibition. However, LDH release was significantly lower (P = 0.002) in the TMZ-Pre group (1.6 +/- 0.1 IU/1000 cells) than in the TMZ and control groups (1.9 +/- 0.2 and 2.2 +/- 0.1 IU/1000 cells).

CONCLUSION

Preincubation of cardiomyocytes with TMZ does not prevent rigor contracture induced by metabolic inhibition or hypercontracture during subsequent reoxygenation, but does improve sarcolemmal resistance to reoxygenation-induced mechanical stress. This could help to explain the beneficial effect of TMZ on infarct size.

Social worker preparedness for retirement: gender and ethnic considerations

A systematic, comprehensive analysis of preretirement attitudes and planning among social workers is clearly needed. This article describes research to examine the extent to which social workers adequately prepare for retirement. The analysis established controls for gender and ethnicity, specifically for African American, Puerto Rican, and white social workers, because earlier research indicates that these variables significantly affect how much and how well professionals prepare for retirement. Based on the findings, recommendations and a call for action are provided that will help social workers prepare better before they retire and struggle less during retirement. The need for social workers to conceptualize retirement as a process that has several stages is stressed.