Coronary Artery Ligation (coronary + artery_ligation)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Reduced calcium tolerance in rat cardiomyocytes after myocardial infarction

ACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 4 2002
I. Sjaastad
ABSTRACT During ischaemia and reperfusion the intracellular Na+ concentration is elevated in the cardiomyocytes and the cells are depolarized, both favouring reverse mode Na,Ca-exchange loading of the cell with Ca2+. We examined whether cardiomyocytes from rats with congestive heart failure (CHF) and younger rats (HINCX) which both have a high expression of the Na,Ca-exchanger protein (NCX) showed reduced tolerance to extracellular Ca2+. The CHF was induced in Isofluran anaesthetized rats by left coronary artery ligation. Isolated cardiomyocytes were loaded with Fura-2AM and 140 mm Na+ and exposed to 0.05 mm Ca2+. Expression of the Na,Ca-exchanger protein was analysed. Fura-2 340/380 ratio rose more rapidly in HINCX and CHF than in SHAM, and the rise was abolished by Ni2+. Hypercontracture developed more frequently in HINCX and CHF than in SHAM cells. The amount of NCX was 54% higher in HINCX and 76% higher in CHF compared with SHAM. Na+ -loaded cardiomyocytes from CHF and HINCX rats are more susceptible to Ca2+ overload than SHAM cells because of the increased capacity for Na,Ca-exchange. [source]


Real-time Visualization and Quantification of Retrograde Cardioplegia Delivery using Near Infrared Fluorescent Imaging

JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 6 2008
Aravind T. Rangaraj M.D.
Presently, there exist no established methods to quantitatively assess cardioplegia distribution intraoperatively and determine when retrograde cardioplegia is required. In this study, we evaluate the feasibility of near infrared (NIR) imaging for real-time visualization of cardioplegia distribution in a porcine model. Methods: A portable, intraoperative, real-time NIR imaging system was utilized. NIR fluorescent cardioplegia solution was developed by incorporating indocyanine green (ICG) into crystalloid cardioplegia solution. Real-time NIR imaging was performed while the fluorescent cardioplegia solution was infused via the retrograde route in five ex vivo normal porcine hearts and in five ex vivo porcine hearts status post left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery ligation. Horizontal cross-sections of the hearts were obtained at proximal, middle, and distal LAD levels. Videodensitometry was performed to quantify distribution of fluorophore content. Results: The progressive distribution of cardioplegia was clearly visualized with NIR imaging. Complete visualization of retrograde distribution occurred within 4 minutes of infusion. Videodensitometry revealed retrograde cardioplegia, primarily distributed to the left ventricle (LV) and anterior septum. In hearts with LAD ligation, antegrade cardioplegia did not distribute to the anterior LV. This deficiency was compensated for with retrograde cardioplegia supplementation. Conclusions: Incorporation of ICG into cardioplegia allows real-time visualization of cardioplegia delivery via NIR imaging. This technology may prove useful in guiding intraoperative decisions pertaining to when retrograde cardioplegia is mandated. [source]


Mapping of Epicardial Activation in a Rabbit Model of Chronic Myocardial Infarction:

JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 8 2007
Endocardial, Epicardial Pacing, Response to Atrial
Introduction: This study examines the consequences of a large transmural apical infarct on the epicardial electrical activity in isolated rabbit hearts. Methods and Results: Hearts were isolated 8 weeks after coronary artery ligation. Membrane voltage from the epicardial surface of the left ventricle (LV) including the infarct was monitored using the voltage sensitive dye RH237. Optical action potentials were detected from the epicardial surface of the infarct; the signal amplitude was ,20% of those in the noninfarcted zone (NZ). Epicardial activation mapping of the LV free wall showed that during right atrial (RA) pacing, the activation sequence was not significantly different between infarcted and sham-operated groups. However, direct stimulation of the epicardium in the NZ revealed an area of slow conduction velocity (CV ,5 cm/s,1, ,10% of normal values) at the margin of the infarct zone (IZ). Within the IZ, CV was ,50% of normal. A prominent endocardial rim of myocardium in the infarct was not the source of epicardial optical signals because chemical ablation of the endocardium did not affect the epicardial activation pattern. Concluson: Therefore, remnant groups of myocytes in the mid-wall and epicardium of the infarct scar support normal electrical activation during RA pacing. Areas of delayed conduction emerge only on epicardial stimulation. [source]


Calcineurin Inhibition Ameliorates Structural, Contractile, and Electrophysiologic Consequences of Postinfarction Remodeling

JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 9 2001
LILI DENG M.S.
Calcineurin Inhibition and Postinfarction Remodeling.Introduction: After myocardial infarction (MI), the heart undergoes an adaptive remodeling process characterized by hypertrophy of the noninfarcted myocardium. Calcineurin, a Ca2+, calmodulin-regulated phosphatase, has been shown to participate in hypertrophic signal transduction. Methods and Results: We investigated the effects of calcineurin inhibition by cyclosporin A on key structural, contractile, and electrophysiologic alterations of post-MI remodeling. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: (1) sham-operated; (2) sham + cyclosporin A; (3) post-MI (left anterior descending coronary artery ligation); and (4) MI + cyclosporin A. Cyclosporin A (25 mg/kg/day) was initiated 2 days before surgery and continued for 30 days. Hypertrophy was evaluated by echocardiography and by changes in membrane capacitance of isolated myocytes from noninfarcted left ventricle (LV). The effects of cyclosporin A on hemodynamics and cardiac dimensions were investigated, and changes in diastolic function were correlated with changes in protein phosphatase 1 activity and the basal level of phosphorylated phospholamban. The effects of cyclosporin A on Kv4.2/Kv4.3 genes expression and transient outward K + current (Ito) density also were evaluated. One of 12 rats in the post-MI group and 2 of 12 rats in the post-MI + cyclosporin A group died within 48 hours after MI. There were no late deaths in either MI group. There was no evidence of heart failure (lung congestion and/or pleural effusion) in the two groups 4 weeks post-MI. Calcineurin phosphatase activity increased 1.9-fold in post-MI remodeled LV myocardium, and cyclosporin A administration resulted in an 86% decrease in activity. There were statistically significant decreases of LV end-diastolic pressure, LV end-diastolic diameter, and LV relative wall thickness in the post-MI + cyclosporin A group compared with the post-MI group. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in LV end-systolic diameter or peak rate of LV pressure increase between the two post-MI groups. Protein phosphatase 1 activity was elevated by 36% in the post-MI group compared with sham, and this correlated with a 79% decrease in basal level of p16, phospholamban. In the post-MI + cyclosporin A group, the increase in protein phosphatase 1 activity was much less (18% vs 36%; P < 0.05), and the decrease in basal level of p16-phospholamban was markedly ameliorated (20% vs 79%; P < 0.01). The decreases in mRNA levels of Kv4.2 and Kv4.3 and Ito density in the LV of the post-MI + cyclosporin A group were significantly less compared with the post-MI group. Conclusion: Our results show that calcineurin inhibition by cyclosporin A partially ameliorated post-MI remodeled hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction, decrease in basal level of phosphorylated phospholamban, down-regulation of key K + genes expression, and decrease of K + current, with no adverse effects on systolic function or mortality in the first 4 weeks after MI. [source]


Effect of Guanxin No.2 decoction on gene expression in different areas of the myocardial infarcted heart of rats using microarray technology

JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 2 2009
Xiaowei Zeng
Abstract Objectives We have used microarray technology to detect the effect of Guanxin No.2 decoction on gene expression in different areas of the myocardial infarcted heart of rats. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats (180,200 g) were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operated; coronary artery ligation; and coronary artery ligation plus administration of Guanxin No.2 decoction (10.0 g raw materials/kg per day by gavage). The experiment was carried out on day seven after ligation. Key findings We found that the gene expression using microarray technology showed many differences in the border infarcted left ventricular area compared with the remote noninfarcted left ventricular area after administration of Guanxin No.2 decoction. Conclusions Guanxin No.2 decoction has a long history in treating ischaemic cardiomyopathy in China, but the molecular mechanism has been unclear. In this study we found that some important genes may have contributed to the cardioprotective effect of Guanxin No.2 decoction. [source]


Stem cell implantation in ischemic mouse heart: a high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging investigation,

NMR IN BIOMEDICINE, Issue 6 2005
Ekkehard Küstermann
Abstract Advances in the biology of stem cells have evoked great interest in cell replacement therapies for the regeneration of heart tissue after myocardial infarction. However, results from human trials are controversial, since the destination of the injected cells, their engraftment and their long-term fate have remained unclear. Here we investigate whether transplanted cells can be identified in the intact and lesioned murine myocardium employing high-resolution MRI. Cardiac progenitor cells, expressing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), were labeled with ultra-small paramagnetic iron-oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles and transplanted into the intact or injured myocardium of mice. Their precise location was determined with high-resolution MRI and compared with histological tissue sections, stained with Prussian blue for iron content. These experiments showed that iron nanoparticle-loaded cells could be identified at high resolution in the mouse heart. However, ischemic myocardium (after cryoinjury or left coronary artery ligation) was characterized by a signal attenuation similar to that induced by USPIO-labeled cells in T -weighted MR images, making detection of labeled stem cells in this area by T -sensitive contrast rather difficult. In animals with myocardial injury only, the signal attenuated areas were of the same size in proton density- and T -weighted MR images. In injured animals also receiving labeled cells the lesioned area appeared larger in T - than in proton density-weighted MR images. This sequence-dependent lesion size change is due to the increased signal loss caused by the iron oxide nanoparticles, most sensitively detectable in the T -sensitive images. Thus, using the novel combination of these two parameter weightings, USPIO-labeled cells can be detected at high resolution in ischemic myocardium. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


ACUTE CORONARY LIGATION IN THE DOG INDUCES TIME-DEPENDENT TRANSITIONAL CHANGES IN MITOCHONDRIAL CRISTA IN THE NON-ISCHAEMIC VENTRICULAR MYOCARDIUM

CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 3 2007
Craig Steven McLachlan
SUMMARY 1The aim of the present study was to examine, in the dog myocardium, the incidence of zig-zag mitochondrial cristae over time in the non-ischaemic posterior wall, following an acute anterior wall infarct. 2Changes within the myocardial mitochondrial crista membrane in dogs were investigated following acute left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. Transmyocardial biopsy samples were taken serially from the posterior non-ischaemic wall in the same dog. Changes in heart mitochondrial cristae were examined by transmission electron microscopy prior to coronary ligation (control) and 40 min and 2, 4, 6 and 24 h postinfarction. 3In control hearts, 90% of mitochondrial cristae had a lamelliform appearance. Following infarction, there were twotransitional states with respect to mitochondrial cristae, the first characterized by undulating lamelliform cristae that are also found in 10% of control samples and a second transitional state that was zig-zag and reached a maximum between 6 and 24 h after infarction. 4In conclusion, an undulating lamelliform crista pattern is present in the non-ischaemic wall of the acute infarcted dog and we hypothesize that this may be an intermediate from, between ,normal' lamelliform and ,abnormal' zig-zag cristae. [source]


Nicorandil Improves Myocardial High-Energy Phosphates In Postinfarction Porcine Hearts

CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 8 2002
Yo Murakami
SUMMARY 1.,Nicorandil is a potent vasodilator combining the effects of a nitrate with an ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP) opener. Because the postinfarct remodelled heart has increased vulnerability to subendocardial hypoperfusion, it is possible that the vasodilator effects of nicorandil could cause transmural redistribution of blood flow away from the subendocardium. Alternatively, the KATP channel opening effects of nicorandil could exert a beneficial effect on mitochondrial respiration. Consequently, the present study was performed to examine the effect of nicorandil on energy metabolism in the postinfarct heart. 2.,Studies were performed in swine in which myocardial infarction produced by proximal left circumflex coronary artery ligation had resulted in left ventricular remodeling. [31P] nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was used to examine the myocardial energy supply/demand relationship across the left ventricular wall while the transmural distribution of blood flow was examined with radioactive microspheres. Data were obtained during baseline conditions and during infusion of nicorandil (100 ,g, i.v., followed an infusion of 25 ,g/kg per min). 3.,Nicorandil caused coronary vasodilation with a preferential increase in subepicardial flow; however, subendocardial flow also increased significantly. Nicorandil had no significant effect on the rate,pressure product or myocardial oxygen consumption. The ratio of phosphocreatine (PCr)/ATP determined with MRS was abnormally depressed in remodelled hearts (2.01 ± 0.11, 1.85 ± 0.10 and 1.59 ± 0.11 for subepicardium, midwall and subendocardium, respectively) compared with normal (2.22 ± 0.11, 2.01 ± 0.15 and 1.80 ± 0.09, respectively). Nicorandil had no effect on the high-energy phosphate content of normal hearts. However, nicorandil increased the PCr/ATP ratio in the subendocardium of remodelled hearts from 1.59 ± 0.11 to 1.87 ± 0.10 (P < 0.05). 4.,Although nicorandil caused modest redistribution of blood flow away from the subendocardium of the postinfarct left ventricle, this was associated with an increase of the PCr/ATP ratio towards normal. These results suggest that nicorandil exerts a beneficial effect on energy metabolism in the subendocardium of the postinfarct remodelled left ventricle. [source]