Targeting murine heart and brain: visualisation conditions for multi-pinhole SPECT with (99m)Tc- and (123)I-labelled probes.

PURPOSE: The study serves to optimise conditions for multi-pinhole SPECT small animal imaging of (123)I- and (99m)Tc-labelled radiopharmaceuticals with different distributions in murine heart and brain and to investigate detection and dose range thresholds for verification of differences in tracer uptake. METHODS: A Triad 88/Trionix system with three 6-pinhole collimators was used for investigation of dose requirements for imaging of the dopamine D(2) receptor ligand [(123)I]IBZM and the cerebral perfusion tracer [(99m)Tc]HMPAO (1.2-0.4 MBq/g body weight) in healthy mice. The fatty acid [(123)I]IPPA (0.94 +/- 0.05 MBq/g body weight) and the perfusion tracer [(99m)Tc]sestamibi (3.8 +/- 0.45 MBq/g body weight) were applied to cardiomyopathic mice overexpressing the prostaglandin EP(3) receptor. RESULTS: In vivo imaging and in vitro data revealed 45 kBq total cerebral uptake and 201 kBq cardiac uptake as thresholds for visualisation of striatal [(123)I]IBZM and of cardiac [(99m)Tc]sestamibi using 100 and 150 s acquisition time, respectively. Alterations of maximal cerebral uptake of [(123)I]IBZM by >20% (116 kBq) were verified with the prerequisite of 50% striatal of total uptake. The labelling with [(99m)Tc]sestamibi revealed a 30% lower uptake in cardiomyopathic hearts compared to wild types. [(123)I]IPPA uptake could be visualised at activity doses of 0.8 MBq/g body weight. CONCLUSION: Multi-pinhole SPECT enables detection of alterations of the cerebral uptake of (123)I- and (99m)Tc-labelled tracers in an appropriate dose range in murine models targeting physiological processes in brain and heart. The thresholds of detection for differences in the tracer uptake determined under the conditions of our experiments well reflect distinctions in molar activity and uptake characteristics of the tracers.

Alterations of purine and pyrimidine nucleotide contents in rat corticoencephalic cell cultures following metabolic damage and treatment with openers and blockers of ATP-sensitive potassium channels.

Rat corticoencephalic cell cultures were investigated by high performance liquid chromatography for changes in the levels of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP), uridine 5'-triphosphate (UTP), cytidine 5'-triphosphate (CTP), and the respective nucleoside diphosphates. Hypoxia was induced by gassing the incubation medium for 30 min with 100% argon. Removal of glucose was caused by washing the cultures in glucose-free medium at the beginning of the 30 min incubation period. Whereas hypoxia or glucose-deficiency alone failed to alter the nucleotide levels, the combination of these two manipulations was clearly inhibitory. Diazoxide (300 microM) an opener of ATP-dependent potassium channels (K(ATP)) did not alter the nucleotide contents either in a normoxic and glucose-containing medium, or a hypoxic and glucose-free medium. By contrast, the K(ATP) channel antagonist tolbutamide (300 microM) aggravated the hypoxic decrease of nucleotide levels in a glucose-free medium, although it was ineffective in a normoxic and glucose-containing medium. Hypoxia and glucose-deficiency decreased the ATP/ADP and UTP/UDP ratios, but failed to change the GTP/GDP ratio. Diazoxide and tolbutamide (300 microM each) had no effect on the nucleoside triphosphate/diphosphate ratios either during normoxic or during hypoxic conditions. In conclusion, corticoencephalic cultures are rather resistant to in vitro ischemia. Although they clearly respond to the blockade of plasmalemmal K(ATP) channels (plasmaK(ATP)) by tolbutamide, these channels appear to be maximally open as a consequence of the fall in intracellular nucleotides and, therefore, diazoxide has no further effect.

Rapid assay for one-run determination of purine and pyrimidine nucleotide contents in neocortical slices and cell cultures.

The present study describes the measurement of endogenous nucleoside di- and triphosphate contents (ATP, GTP, UTP, CTP, ADP, GDP and UDP) in rat neocortical brain slices and mixed neuronal/astrocytic corticoencephalic cultures. Determination was by means of anion-exchange HPLC using a binary gradient of 0.3 M ammonium carbonate and water. In addition, a new method is described for the identification of nucleoside triphosphates, using digestion of the nucleotides by phosphoglycerate kinase and partial splitting of nucleoside diphosphates to shift the equilibrium of the phosphoglycerate kinase reaction in direction of breakdown of nucleoside triphosphates. Finally, the determination of the sum of creatine and creatine phosphate is suggested as an alternative reference value instead of protein under conditions when cells are cultured in protein-containing medium.

Neuroprotection by ATP-dependent potassium channels in rat neocortical brain slices during hypoxia.

Morphological changes induced by 30 min of hypoxia (incubation in medium saturated with 95% N2-5% CO2 instead of the normal 95% O2-5% CO2) were investigated in neurons (layers II/III of the parietal cortex) of rat neocortical brain slices. The cells were identified as intact, reversibly or irreversibly injured. As expected, hypoxia decreased the number of intact cells and increased the number of irreversibly injured cells. Pretreatment of slices with diazoxide (300 microM), an agonist of ATP-dependent potassium (KATP) channels completely prevented the morphological damage induced by hypoxia, whereas tolbutamide (300 microM), an antagonist of KATP channels, was ineffective when given alone. However, tolbutamide (300 microM) co-applied with diazoxide (300 microM), partly reversed the neuroprotective effect of this agonist during hypoxia. In conclusion, KATP channels appear to be present on neocortical neurons and their opening counteracts hypoxia-induced cell injury.

Changes by short-term hypoxia in the membrane properties of pyramidal cells and the levels of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides in slices of rat neocortex; effects of agonists and antagonists of ATP-dependent potassium channels.

In a first series of experiments, intracellular recordings were made from pyramidal cells in layers II-III of the rat primary somatosensory cortex. Superfusion of the brain slice preparations with hypoxic medium (replacement of 95%O2-5%CO2 with 95%N2-5%CO2) for up to 30 min led to a time-dependent depolarization (HD) without a major change in input resistance. Short periods of hypoxia (5 min) induced reproducible depolarizations which were concentration-dependently depressed by an agonist of ATP-dependent potassium (K(ATP)) channels, diazoxide (3-300 microM). The effect of 30 but not 300 microM diazoxide was reversed by washout. Tolbutamide (300 microM), an antagonist of K(ATP) channels, did not alter the HD when given alone. It did, however, abolish the inhibitory effect of diazoxide (30 microM) on the HD. Neither diazoxide (3-300 microM) nor tolbutamide (300 microM) influenced the membrane potential or the apparent input resistance of the neocortical pyramidal cells. Current-voltage (I-V) curves constructed at a membrane potential of -90 mV by injecting both de- and hyperpolarizing current pulses were not altered by diazoxide (30 microM) or tolbutamide (300 microM). Moreover, normoxic and hypoxic I-V curves did not cross each other, excluding a reversal of the HD at any membrane potential between -130 and -50 mV. The hypoxia-induced change of the I-V relation was the same both in the absence and presence of tolbutamide (300 microM). In a second series of experiments, nucleoside di- and triphosphates separated with anion exchange HPLC were measured in the neocortical slices. After 5 min of hypoxia, levels of nucleoside triphosphates declined by 29% (GTP), 34% (ATP), 44% (UTP) and 58% (CTP). By contrast, the levels of nucleoside diphosphates either did not change (UDP) or increased by 13% (GDP) and 40% (ADP). In slices subjected to 30 min of hypoxia the triphosphate levels continued to decrease, while the levels of GDP and ADP returned to control values. The tri- to diphosphate ratios progressively declined for ATP/ADP and GTP/GDP, but not for UTP/UDP when the duration of hypoxia was increased from 5 to 30 min. Hence, the rapid fall in the ratios of nucleoside tri- to diphosphates without the induction of a potassium current failed to indicate an allosteric regulation of a plasmalemmal K(ATP) channel by purine and pyrimidine nucleotides. Diazoxide had no effect on neocortical pyramidal neurons and was effective only in combination with a hypoxic stimulus; it is suggested that both plasmalemmal and mitochondrial K(ATP) channels are involved under these conditions. The hypoxic depolarization may be due to blockade of K+,Na+-ATPase by limitation of energy supplying substrate.

PBN spin trapping of free radicals in the reperfusion-injured heart. Limitations for pharmacological investigations.

Post-ischemic reperfusion causes cardiac dysfunction and radical-induced lipid peroxidation (LPO) detectable by ESR spin trapping. This study deals with the applicability of the spin trapping technique to pharmacological investigations during myocardial reperfusion injury. The use of the spin trap phenylbutylnitrone (PBN, 3 mM) in isolated rat hearts demonstrated the release of alkoxyl radicals (aN = 1.39 mT, aHbeta = 0.19 mT) formed particularly within the first 15 min of reperfusion following 30 min of ischemia. The decline of radicals, after 10 min of reperfusion, was accompanied by recovery of function in 80% of the hearts. The radical concentration in the coronary effluent (maximum after 7.5 min) was reduced by the infusion of 1 mM mercaptopropionylglycine (MPG, 2.7+/-0.5 U/ml, p < 0.001) or 5 microM vitamin E (11.7+/-0.8 U/ml, p < 0.001), compared to the (PBN-containing) control (29.7+/-4.3 U/ml). Moreover, functional recovery (left ventricular developed pressure, LVDP 91.6 +/-20% of pre-ischemic level, p < 0.05) was improved by the hydrophilic radical scavenger MPG, compared to the (PBN-containing) control (LVDP 50.5+/-15.7% of baseline). PBN alone led to higher functional recovery (p < 0.05) and reduced VF (duration of ventricular fibrillation; 7.10+/-0.36 min/30 min, p < 0.05), compared to the untreated (PBN-free) control (LVDP 26.6+/-11.8%; VF 19.42+/-3.64 min/30 min). The Ca antagonist verapamil (0.1 microM), MPG, and the lipophilic vitamin E showed cardioprotection in the absence of PBN: post-ischemic recovery of LVDP was 25.4+/-6.8% (p < 0.05), 39.6+/-12.7% (p < 0.05) and 52.4+/-2.6% (p < 0.01), respectively, compared to the corresponding untreated control (13.3+/-6.6%). Whereas verapamil and vitamin E were able to protect the heart when present alone, they offered no additive effect in the presence of PBN. Therefore, PBN can be used to estimate the radical scavenger properties of an agent in the heart. However, because of the protective properties of PBN itself, the results of simultaneous investigations of the effects of other compounds, such as Ca antagonists or lipophilic radical scavengers, on heart function may be limited.

Tolbutamide attenuates diazoxide-induced aggravation of hypoxic cell injury.

ATP-dependent potassium (KATP) channels of neurons are closed in the presence of physiological levels of intracellular ATP and open when ATP is depleted during hypoxia or metabolic damage. The present study investigates hypoxic alterations of purine and pyrimidine nucleotide levels supposed to intracellularly modulate KATP channels. In addition, the effects of the KATP channel activator diazoxide and its antagonist tolbutamide were investigated on ATP, GTP, CTP and UTP levels in slices of the parietal cortex. Hypoxia was evoked by saturation of the medium with 95% N2-5% CO2 instead of 95% O2-5% CO2 for 5 min. Nucleotide contents were measured by anion-exchange HPLC in neutralized perchloric acid extracts obtained from slices frozen immediately at the end of incubation. Hypoxia per se decreased purine and pyrimidine nucleoside triphosphate contents. Thus, ATP and GTP contents were reduced to 69.9 and 77.6% of the respective normoxic levels. UTP and CTP contents were even more decreased (to 60.9 and 41.6%),, probably because the salvage pathway of these pyrimidine nucleotides is less effective than that of the purine nucleotides ATP and GTP. While tolbutamide (30 microM) had no effect on the hypoxia-induced decrease of nucleotides, diazoxide at 300, but not 30 microM aggravated the decline of ATP, UTP and CTP to 51.8, 37.5 and 28.5% of the contents observed at normoxia; GTP levels also showed a tendency to decrease after diazoxide application. Tolbutamide (300 microM) antagonized the effects of diazoxide (300 but not 30 microM aggravated the decline of ATP, UTP and CTP to 51.8, 37.5 and 28.5% of the contents observed at normoxia; GTP levels also showed a tendency to decrease after diazoxide application. Tolbutamide (300 microM) antagonized the effects of diazoxide (300 MicroM). Nucleoside diphosphate (ADP, GDP and UDP) levels were uniformly increased by hypoxia. There was no hypoxia-induced increase of ADP contents in the presence of tolbutamide (300 microM). The ATP/ADP, GTP/GDP and UTP/UDP ratios uniformly declined at a low pO2. However, only the ATP/ADP ratio was decreased further by diazoxide (300 microM). The observed alterations in nucleotide contents may be of importance for long- and short-term processes related to acute cerebral hypoxia. Thus, hypoxia-induced alterations of purine and pyrimidine nucleotide levels may influence the open state of KATP-channels during the period of reversible hypoxic cerebral injury. Furthermore, alterations during the irreversible period of cerebral injury may also arise, as a consequence of decreased pyrimidine nucleotide contents affecting cell survival viaprotein and DNA synthesis.

Adaptation of cardiac myosin and creatine kinase to chronic hypoxia: role of anorexia and hypertension.

The effects of chronic hypobaric hypoxia (CHH, 28 days, simulated altitude 5,500 m) on the cardiac expression of myosin heavy chain (MHC) and creatine kinase (CK) was studied in rat left (LV) and right (RV) ventricle. To separate the effects of hypoxia from its associated perturbations, anorexia and pulmonary hypertension (resulting in RV hypertrophy), CHH animals were compared with normoxic controls (C) and with rats restricted in food supply (pair fed, PF). In RV, the increased proportion of beta-MHC in CHH (20 +/- 3%) vs. C (7 +/- 2%, P < 0.01) and vs. PF (12 +/- 2%, P < 0.05) rats was mainly attributed to hypertension. In contrast, the higher beta-MHC of CHH (23 +/- 2%) vs. C (13 +/- 2%, P < 0.05) in LV was mainly ascribed to anorexia (PF = 21 +/- 3%, not significant). A major contribution of anorexia was also evidenced in the isozymic profile of CK; anorexia accounted for a 25% decrease in mito-CK specific activity in LV, whereas hypertension partly accounted for the threefold increase in BB-CK in RV. CHH specifically induced a twofold rise in LV BB-CK. This suggests that both the expression of slow myosin, improving the economy of contraction, and the changes in CK isozymic profile could provide a biochemical basis for the CHH resistance to ischemia.

Cardioprotective potency of the radical scavenger S-2-(3 aminopropylamino) ethylphosphorothioic acid in the post-ischaemic rat heart.

S-2-(3 aminopropylamino) ethylphosphorothioic acid (WR-2721) shown to surpass radical scavenging thiols in their radioprotective efficacy in cancer-type diseases has been tested for its protective potential in the reperfused heart. We investigated the radical scavenger properties of the compound in a radical generating system in vitro as well as in isolated rat hearts subjected to 30 min ischaemia and 30 min reperfusion with the electron-paramagnetic resonance spin trap technique. The action on high-energy phosphates is observed by means of phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy while its influence on left ventricular systolic segmental length change (SSLC) during 60 min reperfusion following 60 min regional ischaemia was assessed with a fibreoptic system in anaesthetized open-chest rats. WR-2721 (0.1 mM) reduced the vascular concentration of radical adduct in isolated hearts by up to 78% (275 +/- 84% of pre-ischaemic baseline values vs 1260 +/- 413%, p < 0.05) between 5 and 12.5 min reperfusion. This was accompanied by a reduction of the left ventricular end diastolic pressure to pre-ischaemic values at 30 min of reperfusion (9 +/- 6 mmHg vs 42 +/- 8 mmHg in the absence of WR-2721, p < 0.02). An accelerated recovery of creatine phosphate levels (78 +/- 5% of pre-ischaemia values vs 41 +/- 5% within 60 min reperfusion: p < 0.05) was observed under similar conditions with NMR-spectroscopy, although the post-ischaemic tissue content of adenosine triphosphate was not affected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Protective effect of 7-oxo-prostacyclin on myocardial function and metabolism during postischemic reperfusion and calcium paradox.

The effect of 7-oxo PGI2 on function and metabolism of postischemic reperfused (30-min ischemia and 30-min reperfusion) rat hearts was studied with special regard to calcium overload as one of the main factors of the postischemic reperfusion damage to the heart. The drug (50 micrograms/kg i.p.) was applied 48 h prior to starting the experiments on isolated rat hearts (Langendorff preparation at 37 degrees C and constant perfusion pressure of 65 mm Hg). A late protective effect of 7-oxo PGI2 was manifested by an improved recovery of heart function during reperfusion and calcium overload, better preservation of myocardial ATP contents during ischemia and also after calcium overload, as well as by a normalization of the lactate content, otherwise extremely increased during ischemia. Electron microscopic data also supported the above results. The beneficial effect of pretreatment with PGI2 may be explained not only by its vasodilating action, but more by its membrane stabilizing effect with a consequently decreased sodium accumulation, potassium loss, as well as intracellular calcium overload.

Functional changes in isolated rat heart related to different factors of reperfusion damage.

The role of ischemia itself, calcium overload and of reactive oxygen species (ROC) in reperfusion injury of the heart was characterized from the physiological, biochemical and morphological point of view. Experiments were performed on isolated rat hearts (Langndorff preparation), perfused at constant pressure of 65 Torr and 37 degrees C. The effect of ischemia was studied on the model of 30 min normothermic global ischemia with consequent 30 min reperfusion. Calcium overload and damage by ROS were modelled by Ca(2+)-paradox (3 min Ca(2+)-depletion followed by 10 min Ca(2+)-repletion) and by intraaortal bolus application of ROS-generating system (H2O2 + FeSO4) respectively. Evaluation of functional and biochemical parameters revealed that the changes in electrical activity, accumulation of lactate and the loss in total adenine nucleotides content in heart tissue may be well applied to characterize the participation of the above mechanisms on total reperfusion damage to the heart. Histochemically detected different patterns of distribution of enzyme activities also allow to distinguish between alterations caused by different factors of reperfusion injury.

PGE1 and iloprost affect the high energy phosphates in the global ischemic and reperfused rat heart: a 31P-NMR study.

The influence of PGE1, iloprost and a combination of both on high energy phosphate levels in isolated rat hearts reperfused 1 h following 20 min of global ischemia was investigated employing 31P-NMR-spectroscopy. Whereas PGE1 induced a slight reduction in the decline of the creatine phosphate/inorganic phosphate. ATP/inorganic phosphate ratio and NMR-energetic index during ischemia, iloprost application was followed predominantly by a temporary but marked improvement of the creatine phosphate/inorganic phosphate ratio during the early period of reperfusion. The best results in preservation of high energy phosphates were achieved after simultaneous application of PGE1 and iloprost. It is presumed that the accelerated normalization of the heart function observed immediately after ischemia in the eicosanoid treated hearts is related to the more rapid recovery of intracardial high energy phosphate level.

Improved contractile function in the reperfused rat heart by the radical scavenger 2-[3-aminopropylamino] ethane thiol.

The action of the radioprotector WR 10 65 on regional function of the left ventricular muscle in ischemic injured and reperfused rat heart was investigated employing a new fiber optic based method for determination of segment shortening. In anesthetized rats exposed to regional myocardial ischemia by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 60 minutes followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion WR 10 65 applicated in a dosage of 1 mM/kg body weight intraperitoneally 30 minutes prior to ischemia induced an improvement of post ischemic recovery of segment shortening from 31% of pre-ischemic values in untreated animals to 64.6%. Because only moderate alterations in global functional parameters compared to control group were found in WR 10 65 treated animals, it is presumed that the observed influence on regional myocardial function is less due to changes in cardiac load than to the radical scavenger activity of the tested agent. A possible contribution of hypoxic and hypocalcemic activity of the substance remains to elucidate.

Action of iloprost and PGE1 on global ischemic and reperfused myocardium: a 31P-NMR-study.

The influence of iloprost, PGE1 and of the combined application of iloprost and PGE1 on high energy phosphate contents was investigated in isolated rat hearts perfused aerob at 37 degrees C in Langendorff mode. Changes in creatine phosphate, ATP and inorganic phosphate were registered during 20 minutes of global ischemia and 56 minutes of reperfusion with 31P-NMR-spectroscopic methods starting drug application prior to ischemia simultaneously with onset of heart perfusion. Most effective in preservation of high energy phosphates was the combined application of PGE1 and iloprost resulting in a creatine phosphate/inorganic phosphate ratio of 103.2 +/- 30.9% of pre-ischemia values compared to 52.5 +/- 6.1% in control group without drug application 0-5 minutes after onset of reperfusion, 148.8 +/- 24.8% vs 78.8 +/- 15.2% at 6-11 minutes of reperfusion and 116.6 +/- 16% vs 68.9 +/- 12.7% at 12-17 minutes of reperfusion. The same trend was observed employing ATP/inorganic phosphate ratio. The improved energy state in reperfused hearts following application of PGE1 and iloprost in combination is presumed to be supported by a reduction of the loss of high energy phosphates (HEP) during global ischemia and by a cytoprotective effect of iloprost immediately after starting reperfusion.

Prostacyclin and iloprost: equal efficiency in preserving high energy phosphates in the dog heart following coronary artery ligation.

The influence of PGI2 and iloprost on the contents of high energy phosphates, cAMP, glycolytic metabolites and on cardiac performance was investigated in open-chest dogs subjected to 3 h of ischaemia, induced by occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. The administration of drugs for 2 h, starting 1 h after the onset of ischaemia, resulted in a normalization and an appreciable reduction in the loss of high energy phosphates in the non-ischaemic and ischaemic left ventricular muscle, respectively, leading to an improvement in the phosphate potential of the cardiac tissue. A reduction in the ischemia-induced rise in cAMP levels was observed, indicating a lower catecholamine overflow in the presence of these drugs. PGI2 and iloprost in the dose employed significantly decreased cardiac preload, which was found to be elevated in the untreated animals after coronary artery ligation. The observed effect of PGI2 and its mimetic on the haemodynamics, as well as on myocardial cAMP and high energy phosphate levels of the heart, may be considered helpful in the phase of temporary imbalance between energy demand and supply during acute ischaemia.

31-P-NMR-spectroscopy on ischemic and reperfused rat hearts: effects of iloprost.

Effects of iloprost on the behaviour of high energy phosphate contents were investigated in global ischemic and reperfused rat hearts prepared according to Langendorff. Iloprost application before and after 20 min of ischemia at a dosage of 9-12 pg/g heart weight x min improved the availability of high energy phosphates as was shown by CP/Pi ratio during the first hour of reperfusion.

Influence of verapamil and its combination with glucose-insulin-potassium-infusion on acute myocardial ischemia in dogs.

The influence of verapamil (V) and of V combined with glucose-insulin-potassium (VG) on ischemic injured myocardium was investigated in dogs after ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Three hours after coronary artery ligation with VG application during the last two hours the left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and the pressure rate product were decreased in contrast to the behaviour after V infusion. Contents of ATP and creatine phosphate were preserved in equal extent by V and VG, but the lowest content in inorganic phosphate was found in ischemic and nonischemic left ventricular tissue after VG application. Thus, VG seems to enable the tissue to save more effective energy rich phosphates and to contribute to the economization of cardiac work by reduction of preload.

Beneficial effect of combined glucose-insulin-potassium and mechanical support in acute myocardial ischaemia.

The influence of glucose-insulin-potassium infusion in combination with a mechanical assist device (intraaortic balloon pumping, IABP) on the levels of high energy phosphates in the canine heart after coronary artery ligation was compared with the effect of a separate application of these measures to protect the acute ischaemic myocardium. The combined method normalized the tissue content of creatine phosphate in the nonischaemic tissue contrary to the application of the mechanical or pharmacological assistance alone. In the ischaemic cardiac tissue only the combination of both methods reduced the loss of creatine phosphate, ATP and the sum of adenine nucleotides. With the balloon pumping a reduction in lactate accumulation was achieved, which, however, was significantly lower than that obtained by the combination of heart protective measures: IABP plus glucose-insulin-potassium.