Thyroid hormone disorder and the heart: The role of cardiolipin in calcium handling.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Do alterations in thyroid status affect haemodynamic parameters and echocardiographic measurements in the rat postnatal heart, and calcium handling, contractility, relaxation and cardiolipin content in isolated rat cardiomyocytes? What is the main finding and its importance? An imbalance in phospholipids of the mitochondrial membrane such as cardiolipin is related to defects in mitochondrial function. T3 -dependent cardiolipin signals contribute to the maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis and involve Ca2+ handling, this pathway being more important in hypothyroidism. ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to evaluate whether alterations in thyroid status affect (1) haemodynamic parameters and echocardiographic measurements in the rat postnatal heart, and (2) calcium handling, contractility, relaxation and cardiolipin content in isolated rat cardiomyocytes. Sprague-Dawley rats aged 2 months treated with T3 (hyperthyroid, 20 µg/100 g body weight) or 0.02% methimazole (hypothyroid, w/v) for 28 days. Heart function was evaluated by echocardiography. Measurements of mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, Ca2+ transients, cardiomyocyte shortening, number of spontaneous contractions per minute and cardiolipin (CL) content were performed. Thyroid disorders were associated with changes in pacemaker activity without modifications of MAP. Thyroid disorder induced changes in left ventricular diameter which were correlated with modifications of cardiac contractility (altered cell shortening and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content). Endocrine disorders altered cardiomyocyte relaxation (reduction in the time to 50% re-lengthening and the time to 50% Ca2+ decay). Thyroid disorder increased the number of spontaneous contractions per minute (an index of pro-arrhythmogenic behaviour). CL content was increased only in hypothyroid rats. Changes in CL content, CL composition and CL-protein interaction in mitochondria from hypothyroid animals are responsible for alterations of contractile and relaxation cardiac function. This mechanism may be not be involved in T3 -treated rats. Maintenance of euthyroidism is of crucial importance to preserve cardiac performance. An imbalance in relation to phospholipids of the mitochondrial membrane such as CL is related to defects in mitochondrial function. T3 -dependent CL signals contribute to the maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis and involve Ca2+ handling, this pathway being more important in hypothyroidism.

Erythropoietin Improves Cardiovascular Function in Adult Rats After Acute Hemorrhage.

Erythropoietin (EPO) has been linked to cardioprotective effects. However, its effects during the aging process are little known. We investigated the effect of EPO administration on hemodynamic parameters, cardiac function, oxidative damage, and erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) expression pattern in the hypovolemic state. EPO was administered (1000 IU/kg/3 days) and then acute hemorrhage (20% blood loss) was induced in young and adult rats. There was no difference in plasmatic EPO in either age group. The hemodynamic basal condition was similar, without alterations in renal function and hematocrit, in both age groups. After bleeding, both EPO-treated age groups had increased blood pressure at the end of the experimental protocol, being greater in adult animals. EPO attenuated the tachycardic effect. Ejection fraction and fractional shortening were higher in adult EPO-treated rats subjected to hemorrhage. In the left ventricle, young and adult EPO-treated rats subjected to bleeding showed an increased EPOR expression. A different EPOR expression pattern was observed in the adult right atrial tissue, compared with young animals. EPO treatment decreased oxidative damage to lipids in both age groups. EPO treatment before acute hemorrhage improves cardiovascular function during the aging process, which is mediated by different EPOR pattern expression in the heart tissue.

Thyroid disorders and nitric oxide in cardiovascular adaptation to hypovolemia.

This study aimed to investigate whether nitric oxide participates in the cardiovascular function and haemodynamic adaptation to acute haemorrhage in animals with thyroid disorders. Sprague-Dawley rats aged 2months old treated with T3 (hyper, 20µg/100g body weight) or 0.02% methimazole (hypo, w/v) during 28days were pre-treated with N(G) nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and submitted to 20% blood loss. Heart function was evaluated by echocardiography. Measurements of arterial blood pressure, heart rate, nitric oxide synthase activity and protein levels were performed. We found that hypo decreased fractional shortening and ejection fraction and increased left ventricle internal diameter. Hyper decreased ventricle diameter and no changes in cardiac contractility. Haemorrhage elicited a hypotension of similar magnitude within 10min. Then, this parameter was stabilized at about 30-40min and maintained until finalized, 120min. L-NAME rats showed that the immediate hypotension would be independent of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide synthase inhibition blunted the changes of heart rate induced by blood loss. Hyper and hypo had lower atrial enzyme activity associated with a decreased enzyme isoform in hypo. In ventricle, hyper and hypo had a higher enzyme activity, which was not correlated with changes in protein levels. Haemorrhage induced an increased heart nitric oxide production. We concluded that thyroid disorders were associated with hypertrophic remodelling which impacted differently on cardiac function and its adaptation to a hypovolemia. Hypovolemia triggered a nitric oxide synthase activation modulating the heart function to maintain haemodynamic homeostasis. This involvement depends on a specific enzyme isoform, cardiac chamber and thyroid state.

Caveolinas y modulación del sistema del óxido nítrico en el hipotiroidismo según avanza la edad / Age-related Influence of Hypothyroidism on Caveolins and Nitric Oxide Modulation

Introducción El hipotiroidismo y la edad impactan sobre la producción de óxido nítrico (NO) cardíaco y renal. Las caveolinas, moduladores negativos de la actividad enzimática de la NO sintetasa (NOS), se afectan con ambos factores. Objetivos Evaluar la implicación de las caveolinas (cav) en la modulación de la actividad de la NOS cardíaca y renal en animales hipotiroideos adultos. Material y métodos Se utilizaron ratas macho Sprague-Dawley eutiroideas e hipotiroideas [metimazol 0,02% (v/v) en el agua de bebida durante 28 días]. Los animales fueron sacrificados para extraer el corazón y los riñones. Resultados La actividad de la NOS en la aurícula derecha disminuyó con la edad y el hipotiroidismo. La expresión de cav-1 aumentó con la edad y el hipotiroidismo. La actividad de la NOS en el ventrículo izquierdo aumentó con el avance de la edad y el hipotiroidismo. La expresión de ambas caveolinas disminuyó en los grupos adulto e hipotiroideo. En la médula renal, el hipotiroidismo disminuyó la actividad de la NOS en jóvenes y la aumentó en adultos. La expresión de cav-1 disminuyó con la edad y en jóvenes hipotiroideos. Los niveles proteicos de cav-3 disminuyeron en animales adultos hipotiroideos. Conclusiones El hipotiroidismo impacta sobre la actividad de la NOS y de sus moduladores, las caveolinas, en el sistema cardiovascular y renal. El hipotiroidismo intensifica los efectos del avance de la edad en ambos sistemas.

Introduction Hypothyroidism and age impact on cardiac and renal nitric oxide (NO) production. Caveolins, which are negative modulators of NO synthase (NOS) activity, are affected by both factors. Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate caveolin (CAV) participation in the modulation of renal and cardiac NOS activity in adult hypothyroid animals. Methods Euthyroid and hypothyroid [methimazole 0.02% (v/v) in the drinking water during 28 days] male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Animals were sacrificed to remove the heart and kidneys. Results Right atrial NOS activity decreased with age and hypothyroi-dism. Caveolin-1 expression increased with age and hypothyroidism. Conversely, left ventricular NOS activity increased with aging and hypothyroidism and the expression of both CAV isoforms decreased in adult and hypothyroid groups. In the renal medulla, hypothyroidism reduced NOS activity in young and raised it in adult animals and CAV-1 expression decreased with age and in hypothyroid young animals. Caveolin-3 protein levels decreased in adult hypothyroid animals. Conclusions Hypothyroidism impacts on NOS activity and on that of its modulators, caveolins, in the cardiovascular and renal systems. Hypothyroidism enhances the effects of aging in both systems.

Contribution of caveolin-1 to ventricular nitric oxide in age-related adaptation to hypovolemic state.

Our previous results have shown that hypovolemic state induced by acute hemorrhage in young anesthetized rats triggers heterogeneous and dynamic nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activation, modulating the cardiovascular response. Involvement of the nitric oxide pathway is both isoform-specific and time-dependent. The aim of the present study was to investigate changes in activity and protein levels of the different NOS forms, changes in the abundance of caveolin-1 during hypovolemic state and caveolin-1/eNOS association using young and middle-aged rats. Therefore, we studied (i) changes in NOS activity and protein levels and (ii) caveolin-1 abundance, as well as its association with endothelial NOS (eNOS) in ventricles from young and middle-aged rats during hypovolemic state. We used 2-month (young) and 12-month (middle-aged) old male Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were divided into two groups (n=14/group): (a) sham; (b) hemorrhaged animals (20% blood loss). With advancing age, we observed an increase in ventricle NOS activity accompanied by a decrease in eNOS and caveolin-1 protein levels, but increased inducible NOS (iNOS). We also observed that aging is associated with caveolin-1 dissociation from eNOS. Myocardia from young and middle-aged rats subjected to hemorrhage-induced hypovolemia exhibited an increase in NOS activity and protein levels with a reduction in caveolin-1 abundance, accompanied by a greater dissociation between eNOS and its regulatory protein. Further, an increase in iNOS protein levels after blood loss was observed only in middle-aged rats. Our evidence suggests that aging and acute hemorrhage contribute to the development of upregulation in NOS activity. Our findings demonstrate that specific expression patterns of ventricular NOS isoforms, alterations in the amount of caveolin-1 and caveolin-1/eNOS interaction are involved in aged-related adjustment to hypovolemic state.

Hypothyroidism: age-related influence on cardiovascular nitric oxide system in rats.

This study investigates whether changes in nitric oxide (NO) production participate in the cardiovascular manifestations of hypothyroidism and whether these changes are age-related. Sprague-Dawley rats aged 2 and 18 months old were treated with 0.02% methimazole (wt/vol) during 28 days. Left ventricular function was evaluated by echocardiography. Measurements of arterial blood pressure, heart rate, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and NOS/caveolin-1 and -3 protein levels were performed. Hypothyroidism enhanced the age-related changes in heart function. Hypothyroid state decreased atrial NOS activity in both young and adult rats, associated with a reduction in protein levels of the three NOS isoforms in young animals and increased caveolin (cav) 1 expression in adult rats. Ventricle and aorta NOS activity increased in young and adult hypothyroid animals. In ventricle, changes in NOS activity were accompanied by an increase in inducible NOS isoform in young rats and by an increase in caveolins expression in adult rats. Greater aorta NOS activity level in young and in adult Hypo rats would derive from the inducible and the endothelial NOS isoform, respectively. Thyroid hormones would be one of the factors involved in the modulation of cardiovascular NO production and caveolin-1 and -3 tissue-specific abundance, regardless of age. Hypothyroidism appears to contribute in a differential way to aging-induced changes in the myocardium and aorta tissues. Low thyroid hormones levels would enhance the aging effect on the heart. Age-related changes in NO production participate in the cardiovascular manifestations of hypothyroidism.

Caveolinas cardíacas y modulación de la óxido nítrico sintetasa durante el estado hipovolémico según avanza la edad / Age-Related Changes of Cardiac Caveolins and Nitric Oxide Synthase Modulation during Hypovolemic State / Age-Related Changes of Cardiac Caveolins and Nitric Oxide Synthase Modulation during Hypovolemic State

Introducción El óxido nítrico (NO) es uno de los factores que se estimulan durante el estado hipovolémico. Las caveolinas afectarían la producción de NO en el corazón según avanza la edad. Objetivo Investigar la interacción entre la caveolina-1 (cav-1) y la óxido nítrico sintetasa endotelial (eNOS) en ventrículos de ratas jóvenes y adultas sometidas a hemorragia aguda. Material y métodos Se utilizaron ratas Sprague-Dawley machos jóvenes (2 meses de edad) y adultas (12 meses de edad). Se conformaron dos grupos experimentales de cada grupo etario (jóvenes y adultas): Control y Hemo (sangrado: 20% de la volemia). Los animales se sacrificaron para la extracción del ventrículo izquierdo. Resultados Luego del sangrado, la actividad de la NOS aumentó el 21% y el 45% en ratas jóvenes y el 32% y el 56% en adultas. El Western blot reveló que los niveles de eNOS fueron menores (31%) en ratas adultas. La hemorragia ocasionó un aumento del 147% de la eNOS a los 60 min en animales jóvenes y del 66% en adultos, atenuándose a los 120 min. La colocalización mostró un patrón difuso de localización de la eNOS asociado con cav-1 en animales del grupo Control jóvenes. En el grupo Hemo, a los 60 min se observó un patrón de disociación, el cual fue parcialmente restablecido a los 120 min. En los animales adultos del grupo Control se observó un patrón de localización de la eNOS y cav-1 con una disociación mayor que en las ratas jóvenes. Esta característica se observó también luego de los 60 y los 120 min. Conclusión El aumento de la producción de NO ante un estado hipovolémico se ve condicionado por la presencia de cav-1, la cual cumple un papel preponderante en el proceso del envejecimiento.

Background Nitric Oxide (NO) is one of the factors activated by hypovolemic state. Caveolins might affect the production of NO with increasing age. Objective To investigate the interaction between caveolin-1 (cav-1) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in the ventricles of young and adult rats subjected to acute bleeding. Material and Methods We used young (2 months old) and adult (12 months old) male Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals from each age group (young and adult) were divided into two experimental groups: Control: control group, and Hem: bleeding group (20% of blood volume). The animals were sacrificed and the left ventricle was resected. Results After bleeding, NOS activity increased by 21% and 45% in young rats and by 32% and 56% in adult rats. Western blot analysis revealed that NOS levels were lower (31%) in adult rats. Sixty minutes after bleeding, eNOS activity increased by 147% in young animals and by 66% in adults, with lower increase at 120 minutes. Colocalization showed a diffuse pattern of eNOS location associated with cav-1 in group Control of young animals. A dissociation pattern was observed in group Hem at 60 min which was partially restored at 120 min. The dissociation pattern of eNOS and cav-1 in group Control adult animals was greater compared to that of young rats. This characteristic was also seen after 60 min and 120 min. Conclusion The increased production of NO during hypovolemic state depends on the presence of cav-1 which plays a key role in the aging process.

Shock hemorrágico: óxido nítrico en ratas anestesiadas y no anestesiadas / Hemorrhagic Shock: Nitric Oxide in Anesthetized and Non Anesthetized Rats

Antecedentes En un trabajo previo mostramos que el estado hipovolémico inducido por una pérdida aguda de sangre se acompaña de una activación dinámica, heterogénea y dependiente del tiempo de la óxido nítrico sintetasa (NOS) cardíaca. Este sistema estaría involucrado en las alteraciones hemodinámicas que se observan luego de la depleción de volumen sanguíneo. Objetivo El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar la participación del sistema del óxido nítrico (NO) mitocondrial en la respuesta adaptativa del sistema cardiovascular ante un shock hipovolémico en ratas anestesiadas y no anestesiadas. Material y métodos El estudio se llevó a cabo con cuatro grupos de animales (n = 7 por grupo): grupo A, ratas control anestesiadas; grupo C, ratas control no anestesiadas; grupo AH, ratas anestesiadas sometidas a una hemorragia (20% de la volemia) y grupo CH, ratas no anestesiadas sometidas a una hemorragia. Se evaluaron el consumo de oxígeno, la actividad funcional de la NOS mitocondrial (mtNOS) y la producción mitocondrial de NO. Resultados No se observaron diferencias significativas entre los valores de control respiratorio en los distintos grupos estudiados. La actividad funcional de la mtNOS fue menor en el grupo AH respecto del grupo A (12 ± 2 y 19 ± 1, respectivamente). Este efecto fue de menor magnitud cuando la hemorragia se provocó en animales no anestesiados (17 ± 1 y 20 ± 1, respectivamente). La producción mitocondrial de NO disminuyó en los grupos sometidos a una pérdida aguda de sangre, tanto no anestesiados como anestesiados, respecto de los animales controles. Conclusiones El sistema del NO mitocondrial estaría involucrado en la respuesta de adaptación del sistema cardiovascular frente a la depleción aguda de volumen. Esta participación dependería del grado de anestesia del animal.

Background We have previously demonstrated that hypovolemia induced by acute bleeding is accompanied by a dynamic, heterogenous and time-dependent activation of the cardiac nitric oxide synthase (NOS). This system might be involved in the hemodynamic anomalies observed after blood volume depletion. Objective To assess the role of the mitochondrial nitric oxide (NO) system in the adaptive response of the cardiovascular system in anesthetized and non anesthetized rats under hypovolemic shock. Material and Methods Animals were divided in four groups (n=7 animals per group): Group A, anesthetized control rats; group C, non anesthetized control rats; group AB, anesthetized rats subjected to bleeding (20% of blood volume), and group CB, non anesthetized rats subjected to bleeding. Oxygen consumption, functional activity of mitochondrial NOS (mtNOS) and mitochondrial production of NO were assessed. Results There were no significant differences in the values of respiratory parameters among the different study groups. Group AB had less functional activity of mtNOS compared to group A (12±2 and 19±1, respectively). This effect was even lower in non anesthetized animals subjected to bleeding (17±1 and 20±1, respectively). Mitochondrial production of NO decreased in anesthetized and non anesthetized animals with acute bleeding compared to controls. Conclusions Mitochondrial NO system might be involved in the adaptive response of the cardiovascular system under acute volume depletion, depending on the animal's degree of anesthesia.

Hypovolemic state: involvement of nitric oxide in the aged related alterations of aquaporins-2 abundance in rat kidney.

AIM: To examine the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the expression and/or localization of inner medulla collecting duct aquaporin-2 water channel (AQP2) in young and adult hemorrhaged anesthetized rats. METHODS: Rats of 2 (young) and 12 mo (adult) old (n=15) were divided into: Sham animals with and without NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) treatment (S L-NAME and S); hemorrhaged animals (20% blood loss) with and without L-NAME (H L-NAME and H). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was continuously monitored and AQP2 expression and inmunolocalization were evaluated at 120 min after bleeding. RESULTS: L-NAME blunted the hypotension induced by hemorrhage at 120 min in young (106+/-2 mm Hg) and adult (103+/-4 mm Hg) rats. AQP2 expression increased after bleeding in young (from 22 to 50 densitometric units) and adult rats (from 15 to 30 densitometric units). Pretreatment with L-NAME enhanced this effect, being this rise lower in adult than young animals (young: 318%, adult: 233%). Electron microscopy showed that AQP2 labeling increased after withdrawal, being the number of gold particles smaller in adult than young animals in the inner medulla. L-NAME enhanced this effect. CONCLUSION: NOS activity decreases AQP2 expression/traffick in the inner collecting duct principal cells in response to hemorrhage and this effect is lower with aging.

Modulación de la abundancia de acuaporinas 2 en el riñón de la rata: efecto del óxido nítrico durante el estado hipovolémico / Aquaporin-2 Abundance Modulation in the Kidney of the Rat: The Effect of Nitric Oxide During the Hypovolemic State

Hemos demostrado que el shock hemorrágico induce un incremento en la actividad de la enzima óxido nítrico sintetasa, isoforma específica y dependiente del tiempo. Dicha activación estaría involucrada en la modulación de la función cardiovascular. Parecería que la inhibición del sistema del óxido nítrico previene el aumento de la frecuencia cardíaca que se observa en las fases tardías del estado hipovolémico inducido por una pérdida aguda de sangre. En este estudio planteamos la hipótesis de que la inhibición del sistema del óxido nítrico altera la expresión y/o la localización de las acuaporinas 2 en los túbulos colectores renales de ratas sometidas a una hemorragia. Se utilizaron ratas Sprague-Dawley macho, divididas en cuatro grupos (n =15 por grupo): a) normotensas (grupo N), b) hipovolémicas (hemorragia 20% volemia) (grupo H), c) normotensas y tratadas con N G-nitro-L-arginina metil éster (grupo L-NAME N) y d) hipovolémicas y tratadas con el inhibidor (grupo LNAME H). La distribución y la expresión de las acuaporinas 2 se determinaron mediante análisis inmunohistoquímico y Western blot a los 120 minutos del sangrado. La hemorragia indujo un incremento en la expresión de las acuaporinas 2 a los 120 minutos del sangrado. La inmunolocalización mostró que las acuaporinas 2 se ubicaron en el citoplasma de las células principales de los túbulos colectores renales de las ratas sometidas a hemorragia. La inhibición del óxido nítrico aumentó los niveles de acuaporinas 2, principalmente en la membrana apical. Se demuestra así que el sistema del óxido nítrico estaría asociado con una disminución progresiva de la expresión de las acuaporinas 2 que contribuye a la alteración de la capacidad de concentración de la orina en respuesta al shock hemorrágico.

We have previously demonstrated that hemorrhagic shock induces a time-dependent increase in the activity of nitric oxide synthase specific isoform. Such activation might be involved in modulation of cardiovascular function. It seems that the inhibition of the nitric oxide system prevents hemorrhage- induced heart rate changes seen in late stages of hypovolemic shock. The objective of this study was to assess if the inhibition of the nitric oxide system alters aquaporin-2 expression and/or location in the collecting-duct systems in kidneys of bleeding rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used, divided in four groups (n = 15 for each group): a) normotensive rats (group N), b) hypovolemic rats (animals subjected to a 20% loss of the total volemia) (group H), c) normotensive rats pretreated with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N G-nitro-L-arginine- methyl ester (group L-NAME N), and d) hypovolemic rats pretreated with the inhibitor (group L-NAME H). The distribution and the expression of aquaporin-2 were assessed 120 minutes after bleeding by immunohystochemical and Western blot analysis. An increase in aquaporin-2 expression was seen 120 after blood loss. Immunolocation showed aquaporin-2 inside the cytoplasm of collecting-duct main cells in kidneys of bleeding rats. Nitric oxide inhibition increased aquaporin-2 levels, especially in the apical membrane. Thus, the nitric oxide system might be associated with a progressive decrease in the expression of aquaporin-2 which may alter urine concentration as a response to hemorrhagic shock.

Nitric oxide synthases are involved in the modulation of cardiovascular adaptation in hemorrhaged rats.

AIM: Nitric oxide has been implicated in the cardiovascular adaptation to hemorrhagic shock. Our aim was to study the potential role of nitric oxide synthases (NOS) in the cardiovascular response in hemorrhagic hypotension produced experimentally in anesthetized rats. METHODS: Groups of animals (n = 14, per group): (a) normotensive; (b) hypovolemic (20% blood loss); (c) normotensive and pretreatment with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME); (d) hypovolemic and pretreatment with L-NAME. RESULTS: L-NAME restored the hypotension induced by hemorrhage. Blood loss decreased heart rate in the first stage increasing at 60 and 120 min. L-NAME blunted this effect. Right atria and left ventricle histochemical NOS activities increased at 60 and 120 min (atria 8% and 24%, respectively; ventricle 21% and 45%, respectively). This activity increased 17% in smooth muscle at 120 min. Heart endothelial NOS protein levels increased in heart at 60 min being attenuated at 120 min. Inducible NOS protein levels raised significantly in right atria, left ventricle and aorta at 120 min. CONCLUSION: Hemorrhagic shock induced a time-dependent and specific NOS activation modulating cardiovascular function. The inhibition of nitric oxide system appears to prevent the acceleration of heart rate during late phases after acute hypovolemic state induced by blood loss.

El estado hipovolémico modula la actividad y la expresión de la óxido nítrico sintetasa en el sistema cardiovascular / Hypovolemic state modulates nitric oxide synthase activity and expression in the cardiovascular system

Previamente mostramos que el pretratamiento con el inhibidor de la óxido nítrico sintetasa, NG-nitro-L-arginina metil éster (L-NAME), revierte la hipotensión y anula los cambios en la frecuencia cardíaca inducidos por la hemorragia. Objetivo: Evaluar la actividad histoquímica (técnica NADPH-diaforasa) y la expresión (Western blot) de la óxido nítrico sintetasa en la aurícula derecha y en el ventrículo izquierdo de animales sometidos a una hemorragia del 20 por ciento de la volemia. Material y métodos: Se conformaron cuatro grupos de animales (n = 14, por grupo): S ( sham ), H (hemorragia), SL-NAME ( sham + L-NAME) (0,5 mg/kg/h IV = 100 µl/h) y HL-NAME (hemorragia + LNAME). El sacrificio de los animales se realizó por decapitación a los 60 y a los 120 min posteriores al sangrado y se extrajo el corazón para su estudio. Resultados: La pérdida de sangre aumentó la actividad de la NOS en la aurícula y en el ventrículo a los 60 y 120 min (aurícula: 8 por ciento y 21 por ciento respectivamente; ventrículo: 21 por ciento y 45 por ciento, respectivamente) del sangrado. El análisis de Western blot con empleo de un anticuerpo antióxido nítrico sintetasa inducible reveló la presencia de dicha proteína en la aurícula y en el ventrículo a los 120 min del sangrado (654 ± 13 y 465 ± 9 unidades arbitrarias, respectivamente). La expresión de la óxido nítrico sintetasa endotelial aumentó en la aurícula y en el ventrículo a los 60 min (18 por ciento y 147 por ciento respectivamente) en comparación con S, normalizándose a los 120 min de la hemorragia. Conclusiones: El estado hipovolémico inducido por una hemorragia del 20 por ciento de la volemia está asociado con un patrón heterogéneo y dinámico de regulación de la actividad y de la expresión de la óxido nítrico sintetasa en el tejido cardíaco.

Nitric oxide and thyroid gland: modulation of cardiovascular function in autonomic-blocked anaesthetized rats.

We have previously reported that acute administration of N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) increases the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) in autonomic-blocked (CAB) anaesthetized rats. In the present study we examined whether thyroid and adrenal glands are involved in these pressor and chronotropic responses. Sprague-Dawley rats were studied after bilateral vagotomy and ganglionic blockade with hexamethonium (10 mg kg(-1)), and stabilization of MAP with infusion of phenylephrine (PE) (6 microg kg(-1) min(-1)). The rats were divided into groups: L, CAB; PE, CAB + PE bolus (6 microg kg(-1)); L-TX, thyroidectomy + CAB; L-AX, adrenalectomy + CAB; TX, only thyroidectomy; C, CAB. L, L-AX and L-TX groups received a bolus of l-NAME (7.5 mg kg(-1)). Triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxin (T4) and thyrotropin (TSH) levels were measured in L and L-TX rats before and after l-NAME administration. Reduced nicotamide adenine dinucleotide (NADPH) diaphorase activity was determined in heart and aorta of the TX group. The pressor response induced by l-NAME was similar in all groups. l-NAME-induced-tachycardia was associated with this rise in MAP. Adrenalectomy did not modify this chronotropic response, but it was attenuated by thyroidectomy. Thyroidectomy by itself decreased the circulating levels of T3 but it had no effect on the plasma levels of T4 and TSH. L and L-TX groups showed similar levels of circulating T4 and TSH, meanwhile the plasma level of T3 decreased in the L group. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in atria as well as in aorta was greater in the TX group compared with C. When autonomic influences are removed, the thyroid gland modulates intrinsic heart rate via a mechanism that involves, at least in part, the nitric oxide pathway.