Activation of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels delays ischemia-induced cellular uncoupling in rat heart.

AIM: To test the hypothesis that cellular uncoupling induced by myocardial ischemia is mediated by activation of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels (mitoKATP). METHODS: Rat hearts were perfused on a Langendorff apparatus and subjected to 40-min ischemia followed by 30-min reperfusion (I/R). Changes in cellular coupling were monitored by measuring whole-tissue resistance. RESULTS: (1) In hearts subjected to I/R, the onset of uncoupling started at (13.3+/-1.0) min of ischemia; (2) Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) delayed the onset of uncoupling until (22.7+/-1.3) min. Blocking mitoKATP channels with 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) before the IPC abolished the uncoupling delay [(12.6+/-1.6) min]; (3) Calcium preconditioning (CPC) had the same effect as IPC. And this effect was reversed by blocking the mitoKATP channel again. In the CPC group the onset of uncoupling occurred after (20.6+/-1.3) min, and this was canceled by 5-HD [(13.6+/-0.8) min]; (4) In hearts pretreated with the specific mitoKATP channel opener diazoxide before sustained ischemia, the onset was delayed to (18.4+/-1.4) min; (5) 5-HD canceled the protective effects of diazoxide (12.6+/-1.0) min; and both the L-type Ca2+ channel inhibitor verapamil and the free radical scavenger N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)glycine, reduced the extended onset time induced by diazoxide [to (13.3+/-1.8) min and (13.4+/-2.1) min, respectively]. CONCLUSION: IPC and CPC delay the onset of cellular uncoupling induced by acute ischemia in rat heart, and the underlying mechanism involves activation of the mitoKATP channels.

[Studies on properties of depotentiation of long-term potentiation induced by low frequency stimulation in CA1 neurons of rat hippocampal slices].

AIM AND METHODS: The parameters of low frequency stimulation (LFS) were altered systematically (frequencies of 1, 3 or 5 Hz; number of pulses of pulses of 300 or 900; and time lag after high frequency stimulation (HFS) of 20 or 100 min) and examined their effects on depotentiation (DP) of long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic transmission in CA1 neurons in hippocampal slices of rat. RESULTS: LTP could be induced by HFS (two trains of 100 Hz, 100 pulses, separated by 30 s) and be reversed to produce DP by a train of LFS of 900 pulses at 3 Hz given 20 min after HFS. DP induced by LFS could be blocked by NMDA receptor antagonist AP5 (50 micromol/L). And significantly reduced effect was observed for LFS at 1 Hz or 5 Hz, with smaller numbers of pulses or a longer time lag from LFS to HFS. CONCLUSION: The above results indicate that DP induced in CA1 neurons of rat hippocampal slices is strongly dependent on the parameters of LFS, and the process may be mediated through the NMDA receptor.