Renate Rösen

Prostacyclin prevents ischemia-induced increase of lactate and cyclic AMP in ischemic myocardium

The effect of prostacyclin (PGI2, 0.5 nmol . kg-1 . min-1,i.v.) on myocardial metabolism was studied in cats subjected to 5 h of myocardial ischemia (MI) and compared to vehicle-treated MI cats. MI was followed by a 52% decrease in ATP and a concomitant increase (2-3 fold) in lactate and lactate/pyruvate ratio in the severely ischemic area. PGI2 prevented this increase in lactate with an unchanged ATP and lactate/pyruvate ratio. Moreover, PGI2 abolished the ischemia-induced in myocardial cAMP. It is concluded, the PGI2 exerts its beneficial actions on ischemic myocardium partly via cAMP-linked mechanisms.

Cardioprotection by superoxide dismutase: a catecholamine-dependent process?

Oxygen-derived free radicals may contribute to tissue injury in myocardial ischemia although the mechanism is unclear. Catecholamines possibly could be involved in the genesis of free radicals because it has been demonstrated that oxygen free radicals may be generated by autooxidation of noradrenaline. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) protects the myocardium against injury by superoxide anion radicals. We, therefore, examined whether the cardioprotective effect of superoxide dismutase still could be demonstrated after depletion of catecholamine stores by reserpine (7 mg/kg intraperitoneally 24 h premortem). We used electrically paced isolated hearts perfused according to Langendorff (Tyrodes solution, Ca2+ 1.8 mmol/L, constant perfusion pressure: 70 cm H2O, 3 Hz). Myocardial ischemia was induced by occlusion of a left coronary artery branch. Epicardial NADH-fluorescence was used for quantitation of the myocardial ischemia. SOD (48 U/mL) did not influence global coronary flow or left ventricular pressure significantly (P > 0.05). In control hearts, SOD significantly diminished both size and intensity of epicardial NADH-fluorescence after repetitive coronary ligatures (-45%) (P < 0.05). In hearts with depleted catecholamine stores, this cardioprotection by SOD was no longer observed (P > 0.05). Stimulation of noradrenaline overflow by increasing the pacing rate of control hearts from 180/min up to 300/min after coronary occlusion also significantly enlarged myocardial ischemia (P < 0.05). This pacing rate-dependent growth of myocardial ischemia could be prevented completely by either prior depletion of catecholamine stores with reserpine or SOD. Therefore, noradrenaline seems to be the most important source for the generation of oxygen free radicals during myocardial ischemia in isolated saline-perfused rabbit hearts.

Cardioprotection by ramiprilat in isolated rabbit hearts.

The anti-ischemic properties of the ACE inhibitor ramiprilat (ram) were investigated in electrically driven Langendorff hearts from rabbits whose endogenous angiotensin-I content has been previously shown to be very low (constant pressure: 70 cm H2O, Tyrode solution, Ca2+ 1.8 mmol/l). Cumulative concentration-response curves showed that the reduction in global coronary flow (CF) by exogenous angiotensin-I was concentration dependently inhibited by ram (P < 0.05). Myocardial ischemia (MI) was induced by occlusion of a left coronary artery branch and MI was quantified by NADH surface fluorescence photography. MI was significantly enlarged (+23%) (P < 0.05) by exogenous angiotensin-I (6 x 10(-9) mol/l). Addition of ram (10(-8) mol/l) to the perfusion buffer simultaneously with angiotensin-I, completely prevented the reduction of CF by angiotensin-I (P > 0.05) and significantly diminished MI even below control values (-25%) (P < 0.05). In the absence of exogenous angiotensin-I, ram alone (10(-8) mol/l) did not significantly enhance CF (P > 0.05), supporting findings demonstrating a very low endogenous angiotensin-I content in isolated rabbit hearts. However, ram alone (10(-8) mol/l) significantly diminished MI (-24%) (P < 0.05). We conclude that ram does possess direct cardioprotective properties that are independent of the inhibition of angiotensin-II generation but that may be related to potentiation of the effects of bradykinin.

Prostacyclin-induced coronary vasodilation. Interactions with adenosine, cyclic AMP and energy charge in the rat heart in vitro☆

The action of prostacyclin (PGI2) on several biochemical and physiological parameters of myocardial function and coronary perfusion was studied in the rat heart in vitro, perfused according to Langendorff either at constant pressure (65 mmm Hg) or at constant volume (8 ml/min). PGI2 dose-dependently decreased coronary vascular resistance, the ED50, being 5--10 nM, whereas that of adenosine was 550--650 nM. PGI2 (30 nM) did not alter the myocardial energy-rich phosphate content but diminished myocardial cAMP by 23% and adenosine release by 61%. In contrast to adenosine, the coronary dilating activity of PGI2 was not inhibited by isobutyl-methyl-xanthine (MIX; 0.4 microM). There were no direct effects of PGI2 on myocardial contractile force, oxygen consumption or heart rate. The results provide evidence for (1) a direct powerful coronary dilating activity of PGI2 which appears to be independent of adenosine, (2) the absence of any direct activity of the compound on myocardial contraction and energy charge.

Influence of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition by fosinopril on myocardial perfusion in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

We examined the influence of the new angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) fosinopril on function and perfusion of the diabetic rat heart. Streptozotocin-diabetic rats (60 mg/kg body weight) were treated with fosinopril (10 mg/kg body weight/day) for 4 months. Cardiac performance was analyzed in the isolated heart perfused at constant volume. Epicardial perfusion was determined by measuring epicardial fluorescence changes after injection of FITC-dextrane (3 kDa) as described previously. As compared with controls, fosinopril prevented or diminished the increase in end-diastolic pressure (EDP), coronary perfusion pressure (CPP), and vascular resistance in diabetes. The intravascular volume strongly reduced in diabetes was increased, and the epicardial perfusion rate was accelerated in hearts of diabetic rats treated with fosinopril. The vascular exchange diminished in hearts of untreated diabetic rats was enhanced, and the transcapillary permeability was slightly accelerated at low flow rates. These data indicate that treatment of streptozotocin-diabetic rats with fosinopril prevents severe disturbances of coronary autoregulation and at least partly the impairment of cardiac perfusion generally observed in diabetic rats. Together with previously published morphological data demonstrating an inhibition of interstitial and perivascular fibrosis in hearts of diabetic rats with fosinopril, our observations suggest that ACE inhibition by fosinopril is cardioprotective in diabetes.