A potent and selective activator of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels induces preservation of mitochondrial function after hypoxia and reoxygenation by handling of calcium and transmembrane potential.

AIMS: Ischaemic heart disease remains a significant cause of mortality globally. A pharmacological agent that protects cardiac mitochondria against oxygen deprivation injuries is welcome in therapy against acute myocardial infarction. Here, we evaluate the effect of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (BKCa) activator, Compound Z, in isolated mitochondria under hypoxia and reoxygenation. METHODS: Mitochondria from mice hearts were obtained by differential centrifugation. The isolated mitochondria were incubated with a BKCa channel activator, Compound Z, and subjected to normoxia or hypoxia/reoxygenation. Mitochondrial function was evaluated by measurement of O2 consumption in the complexes I, II, and IV in the respiratory states 1, 2, 3, and by maximal uncoupled O2 uptake, ATP production, ROS production, transmembrane potential, and calcium retention capacity. RESULTS: Incubation of isolated mitochondria with Compound Z under normoxia conditions reduced the mitochondrial functions and induced the production of a significant amount of ROS. However, under hypoxia/reoxygenation, the Compound Z prevented a profound reduction in mitochondrial functions, including reducing ROS production over the hypoxia/reoxygenation group. Furthermore, hypoxia/reoxygenation induced a large mitochondria depolarization, which Compound Z incubation prevented, but, even so, Compound Z created a small depolarization. The mitochondrial calcium uptake was prevented by the BKCa activator, extruding the mitochondrial calcium present before Compound Z incubation. CONCLUSION: The Compound Z acts as a mitochondrial BKCa channel activator and can protect mitochondria function against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury, by handling mitochondrial calcium and transmembrane potential.

Quercetin improves white adipose tissue redox homeostasis in ovariectomized rats.

Estrogen deficiency is a well-known hallmark of menopause and is associated with oxidative stress and metabolic dysfunction. Quercetin (Q), a flavonoid found in fruits and vegetables, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in experimental models of metabolic disorders. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of quercetin on retroperitoneal white adipose tissue (rWAT) redox homeostasis and systemic metabolic parameters in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Female Wistar rats at 3 months old were divided into the following experimental groups: sham-operated treated with vehicle (DMSO 10% + PBS - 1 mL/kg); OVX (vehicle treated) and OVX-Q (25 mg/kg) - via oral gavage, daily for 5 weeks. Q did not prevent weight gain but improved glucose tolerance and blood cholesterol profile, and attenuated uterine atrophy in OVX rats. Furthermore, Q had a protective effect on rWAT, once the OVX-Q group presented lower oxidative stress levels, and reduced levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha, compared to the OVX group. Q improved antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase and catalase and decreased reactive oxygen species production, in OVX-Q rats. It was followed by increased levels of total thiol content and lower lipid peroxidation. Moreover, Q reduced senescent-related genes p16INK4a and p19ARF expression which were higher in the OVX group. In conclusion, quercetin supplementation improved redox homeostasis and reduced senescence-related markers, and inflammation in rWAT, which was reflected in preserved systemic metabolic health parameters in OVX rats. These findings suggest that quercetin may have therapeutic potential for the management of metabolic disorders associated with menopause-induced estrogen deficiency.

Subacute and sublethal ingestion of microcystin-LR impairs lung mitochondrial function by an oligomycin-like effect.

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a potent cyanotoxin that can reach several organs. However subacute exposure to sublethal doses of MC-LR has not yet well been studied. Herein, we evaluated the outcomes of subacute and sublethal MC-LR exposure on lungs. Male BALB/c mice were exposed to MC-LR by gavage (30 µg/kg) for 20 consecutive days, whereas CTRL mice received filtered water. Respiratory mechanics was not altered in MC-LR group, but histopathology disclosed increased collagen deposition, immunological cell infiltration, and higher percentage of collapsed alveoli. Mitochondrial function was extensively affected in MC-LR animals. Additionally, a direct in vitro titration of MC-LR revealed impaired mitochondrial function. In conclusion, MC-LR presented an intense deleterious effect on lung mitochondrial function and histology. Furthermore, MC-LR seems to exert an oligomycin-like effect in lung mitochondria. This study opens new perspectives for the understanding of the putative pulmonary initial mechanisms of damage resulting from oral MC-LR intoxication.

Isolation of Mitochondria From Fresh Mice Lung Tissue.

Direct analysis of isolated mitochondria enables a better understanding of lung dysfunction. Despite well-defined mitochondrial isolation protocols applicable to other tissues, such as the brain, kidney, heart, and liver, a robust and reproductive protocol has not yet been advanced for the lung. We describe a protocol for the isolation of mitochondria from lung tissue aiming for functional analyses of mitochondrial O2 consumption, transmembrane potential, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, ATP production, and swelling. We compared our protocol to that used for heart mitochondrial function that is well-established in the literature, and achieved similar results.

3,5-Diiodothyronine protects against cardiac ischaemia-reperfusion injury in male rats.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? 3,5-Diiodothyronine (3,5-T2) administration increases resting metabolic rate, prevents or treats liver steatosis in rodent models, and ameliorates insulin resistance: what are its effects on cardiac electrical and contractile properties and autonomic regulation? What is the main finding and its importance? Chronic 3,5-T2 administration has no adverse effects on cardiac function. Remarkably, 3,5-T2 improves the autonomous control of the rat heart and protects against ischaemia-reperfusion injury. ABSTRACT: The use of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) to treat metabolic diseases has been hindered by potential adverse effects on liver, lipid metabolism and cardiac electrical properties. It is recognized that 3,5-diiodothyronine (3,5-T2) administration increases resting metabolic rate, prevents or treats liver steatosis in rodent models and ameliorates insulin resistance, suggesting 3,5-T2 as a potential therapeutic tool. However, a comprehensive assessment of cardiac electrical and contractile properties has not been made so far. Three-month-old Wistar rats were daily administered vehicle, 3,5-T2 or 3,5-T2+T4 and no signs of atrial or ventricular arrhythmia were detected in non-anaesthetized rats during 90 days. Cardiac function was preserved as heart rate, left ventricle diameter and shortening fraction in 3,5-T2-treated rats compared to vehicle and 3,5-T2+T4 groups. Power spectral analysis indicated an amelioration of the heart rate variability only in 3,5-T2-treated rats. An increased baroreflex sensitivity at rest was observed in both 3,5-T2-treated groups. Finally, 3,5-T2 Langendorff-perfused hearts presented a significant recovery of left ventricular function and remarkably smaller infarction area after ischaemia-reperfusion injury. In conclusion, chronic 3,5-T2 administration ameliorates tonic cardiac autonomic control and confers cardioprotection against ischaemia-reperfusion injury in healthy male rats.

New Cardiomyokine Reduces Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by PI3K-AKT Pathway Via a Putative KDEL-Receptor Binding.

Background CDNF (cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor) belongs to a new family of neurotrophic factors that exert systemic beneficial effects beyond the brain. Little is known about the role of CDNF in the cardiac context. Herein we investigated the effects of CDNF under endoplasmic reticulum-stress conditions using cardiomyocytes (humans and mice) and isolated rat hearts, as well as in rats subjected to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Methods and Results We showed that CDNF is secreted by cardiomyocytes stressed by thapsigargin and by isolated hearts subjected to I/R. Recombinant CDNF (exoCDNF) protected human and mouse cardiomyocytes against endoplasmic reticulum stress and restored the calcium transient. In isolated hearts subjected to I/R, exoCDNF avoided mitochondrial impairment and reduced the infarct area to 19% when administered before ischemia and to 25% when administered at the beginning of reperfusion, compared with an infarct area of 42% in the untreated I/R group. This protection was completely abrogated by AKT (protein kinase B) inhibitor. Heptapeptides containing the KDEL sequence, which binds to the KDEL-R (KDEL receptor), abolished exoCDNF beneficial effects, suggesting the participation of KDEL-R in this cardioprotection. CDNF administered intraperitoneally to rats decreased the infarct area in an in vivo model of I/R (from an infarct area of ≈44% in the I/R group to an infarct area of ≈27%). Moreover, a shorter version of CDNF, which lacks the last 4 residues (CDNF-ΔKTEL) and thus allows CDNF binding to KDEL-R, presented no cardioprotective activity in isolated hearts. Conclusions This is the first study to propose CDNF as a new cardiomyokine that induces cardioprotection via KDEL receptor binding and PI3K/AKT activation.

Acute exposure to C60 fullerene damages pulmonary mitochondrial function and mechanics.

C60 fullerene (C60) nanoparticles, a nanomaterial widely used in technology, can offer risks to humans, overcome biological barriers, and deposit onto the lungs. However, data on its putative pulmonary burden are scanty. Recently, the C60 interaction with mitochondria has been described in vitro and in vivo. We hypothesized that C60 impairs lung mechanics and mitochondrial function. Thirty-five male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into two groups intratracheally instilled with vehicle (0.9% NaCl + 1% Tween 80, CTRL) or C60 (1.0 mg/kg, FUL). Twenty-four hours after exposure, 15 FUL and 8 CTRL mice were anesthetized, paralyzed, and mechanically ventilated for the determination of lung mechanics. After euthanasia, the lungs were removed en bloc at end-expiration for histological processing. Lung tissue elastance and viscance were augmented in FUL group. Increased inflammatory cell number, alveolar collapse, septal thickening, and pulmonary edema were detected. In other six FUL and six CTRL mice, mitochondria expressed reduction in state 1 respiration [FUL = 3.0 ± 1.14 vs. CTRL = 4.46 ± 0.9 (SEM) nmol O2/min/mg protein, p = 0.0210], ATP production (FUL = 122.6 ± 18 vs. CTRL = 154.5 ± 14 µmol/100 µg protein, p = 0.0340), and higher oxygen consumption in state 4 [FUL = 12.56 ± 0.9 vs. CTRL = 8.26 ± 0.6], generation of reactive oxygen species (FUL 733.1 ± 169.32 vs. CTRL = 486.39 ± 73.1 nmol/100 µg protein, p = 0.0313) and reason ROS/ATP [FUL = 8.73 ± 2.3 vs. CTRL = 2.99 ± 0.3]. In conclusion, exposure to fullerene C60 impaired pulmonary mechanics and mitochondrial function, increased ROS concentration, and decrease ATP production.

Exogenous 10 kDa-Heat Shock Protein Preserves Mitochondrial Function After Hypoxia/Reoxygenation.

Humoral factors released during ischemic preconditioning (IPC) protect the myocardium against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. We have recently identified 10 kDa-heat shock protein (HSP10) and a fraction of small 5-10 kDa peptides (5-10-sP) in the coronary effluent of IPC-treated hearts and demonstrated their cardioprotective potential. We here used our isolated mitochondria model to characterize the impact of exogenous HSP10 and 5-10-sP on mitochondria function from myocardium subjected to I/R injury. Isolated perfused rat hearts were submitted to 30-min global ischemia and 10-min reperfusion. Before ischemia, isolated hearts were infused with saline or 5-10-sP, with or without a mitochondrial ATP-sensitive-K+-channel blocker (5HD 10 µmol·L-1) or PKC inhibitor (chelerythrine 10 µmol·L-1), before I/R. HSP10 (1 µmol·L-1) was infused into isolated hearts before I/R without blockers. At 10-min reperfusion, the mitochondria were isolated and mitochondrial function was assessed. In a subset of experiments, freshly isolated mitochondria were directly incubated with HSP10 or 5-10-sP with or without 5HD or chelerythrine before in vitro hypoxia/reoxygenation. Infusion of 5-10-sP (n = 5) and HSP10 (n = 5) into isolated hearts before I/R improved mitochondrial ADP-stimulated respiration, ATP production and prevented mitochondrial ROS formation compared to the I/R group (n = 5); this effect was abrogated by 5HD and chelerythrine. In freshly isolated mitochondria with in vitro hypoxia/reoxygenation, HSP10 (n = 16) and 5-10-sP (n = 16) incubation prevented reductions of mitochondrial ADP-stimulated respiration (91.5 ± 5.1 nmol O2/min/mg PTN), ATP production (250.1 ± 9.3 µmol ATP/200µg PTN), and prevented mitochondrial ROS production (219.7 ± 9.0 nmol H2O2/200µg PTN) induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation (n = 12, 51.5 ± 5.0 nmol O2/min/mg PTN; 187 ± 21.7 µmol ATP/200 µg PTN; 339.0 ± 14.3 nmol H2O2/200 µg PTN, p < 0.001, respectively). 5HD reduced the ADP-stimulated respiration in the HSP10 group (65.84 ± 3.3 nmol O2/min/mg PTN), ATP production (193.7 ± 12.1 µmol ATP/200µg PTN) and increased ROS in the 5-10-sP group (274.4 ± 21.7 nmol H2O2/200 µg PTN). Mitochondria are a target of the cardioprotection induced by 5-10-sP and HSP10. This protection is dependent of PKC and mKATP activation. HSP10 can act directly on mitochondria and protects against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury by mKATP activation.

Aging-related compensated hypogonadism: Role of metabolomic analysis in physiopathological and therapeutic evaluation.

Aging is a complex process that increases the risk of chronic disease development. Hormonal and metabolic alterations occur with aging, such as androgen activity decrease. Studies aim to understand the role of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in males, however biomarkers and the metabolic responses to TRT are not well characterized. Therefore, the present study investigated TRT effect in young adult and aged rats by metabolomics. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: adult and adult + testo (6months), old and old + testo (25-27months). TRT animals received daily testosterone propionate (1 mg/kg/subcutaneous). TRT changed the testicular weight index decrease induced by aging but did not change the body weight and liver weight index. Sera were analyzed by liquid chromatograph high resolution mass spectrometry (LCMS/MS). Testosterone was quantified by target LCMS/MS. A total of 126 metabolites were detected with known identification altered by TRT by non-target metabolomics analysis. Multivariate statistics shows that all groups segregated individually after principal component analysis. The treatment with testosterone induced several metabolic alterations in adult and old rats that were summarized by variable importance on projection score, metabolite interaction and pathway analysis. Aging-related hypogonadism induces a pattern of systemic metabolic alterations that can be partially reversed by TRT, however, this treatment in aged rats induces novel alterations in some metabolites that are possible new targets for monitoring in patients submitted to TRT.

Cardioprotection by the transfer of coronary effluent from ischaemic preconditioned rat hearts: identification of cardioprotective humoral factors.

Ischaemic preconditioning (IPC) provides myocardial resistance to ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injuries. The protection afforded by IPC is not limited to the target tissue but extends to remote tissues, suggesting a mechanism mediated by humoral factors. The aim of the present study was to identify the humoral factors that are responsible for the cardioprotection induced by the coronary effluent transferred from IPC to naïve hearts. Isolated rat hearts were submitted to IPC (three cycles of 5 min I/R) before 30-min global ischaemia and 60-min reperfusion. The coronary effluent (Efl_IPC) collected during IPC was fractionated by ultrafiltration in different molecular weight ranges (<3, 3-5, 5-10, 10-30, 30-50, and >50 kDa) and evaluated for cardioprotective effects by perfusion before I/R in naïve hearts. Only the <3, 5-10 and <10 kDa fractions of hydrophobic eluate reduced I/R injuries. The cardioprotective effect of the 5-10 fraction was blocked by KATP channel blockers and a PKC inhibitor. An Efl_IPC proteomic analysis revealed 14 cytoprotection-related proteins in 4-12 kDa peptides. HSP10 perfusion protected the heart against I/R injuries. These data provide insights into the mechanisms of cardioprotection in humoral factors released by IPC. Cardioprotection is afforded by hydrophobic peptides in the 4-12 kDa size range, which activate pathways that are dependent on PKC and KATP. Fourteen 4-12 kDa peptides were identified, suggesting a potential therapeutic role for these molecules in ischaemic diseases. One of these, HSP10, identified by mass spectrometry, reduced I/R injuries and may be a potential candidate as a therapeutic target.

Chronic enalapril treatment increases transient outward potassium current in cardiomyocytes isolated from right ventricle of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

It has been well established that chronic pressure overload resulting from hypertension leads to ventricular hypertrophy and electrophysiological remodeling. The transient outward potassium current (I to) reduction described in hypertensive animals delays ventricular repolarization, leading to complex ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death. Antihypertensive drugs, as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), can restore I to and reduce the incidence of arrhythmic events. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differential effects of long-term treatment with ACEi or direct-acting smooth muscle relaxant on the I to of left and right ventricle myocytes of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Animals were divided into four groups: normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY), hypertensive (SHR), SHR treated for 6 weeks with enalapril 10 mg/kg/day (SHRE), or hydralazine 20 mg/kg/day (SHRH). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and hypertrophy index (heart weight/body weight (HW/BW)) were determined at the end of treatment period. Cell membrane capacitance (C m) and I to were assessed in cardiomyocytes isolated from left and right ventricles. The SHR exhibited significantly increased SBP and HW/BW when compared to the WKY. The treated groups, SHRE and SHRH, restored normal SBP but not HW/BW. The SHR group exhibited a diminished I to in the left but not the right ventricle. Both the treated groups restored I to in the left ventricle. However, in the right ventricle, only enalapril treatment modified I to. The SHRE group exhibited a significant increase in I to compared to all the other groups. These findings suggest that enalapril may increase I to by a pressure overload independent mechanism.

Effects of Incretin-Based Therapies on Neuro-Cardiovascular Dynamic Changes Induced by High Fat Diet in Rats.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Obesity promotes cardiac and cerebral microcirculatory dysfunction that could be improved by incretin-based therapies. However, the effects of this class of compounds on neuro-cardiovascular system damage induced by high fat diet remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of incretin-based therapies on neuro-cardiovascular dysfunction induced by high fat diet in Wistar rats. METHODS AND RESULTS: We have evaluated fasting glucose levels and insulin resistance, heart rate variability quantified on time and frequency domains, cerebral microcirculation by intravital microscopy, mean arterial blood pressure, ventricular function and mitochondrial swelling. High fat diet worsened biometric and metabolic parameters and promoted deleterious effects on autonomic, myocardial and haemodynamic parameters, decreased capillary diameters and increased functional capillary density in the brain. Biometric and metabolic parameters were better improved by glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) compared with dipeptdyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor. On the other hand, both GLP-1 agonist and DPP-4 inhibitor reversed the deleterious effects of high fat diet on autonomic, myocardial, haemodynamic and cerebral microvascular parameters. GLP-1 agonist and DPP-4 inhibitor therapy also increased mitochondrial permeability transition pore resistance in brain and heart tissues of rats subjected to high fat diet. CONCLUSION: Incretin-based therapies improve deleterious cardiovascular effects induced by high fat diet and may have important contributions on the interplay between neuro-cardiovascular dynamic controls through mitochondrial dysfunction associated to metabolic disorders.

AT1 and aldosterone receptors blockade prevents the chronic effect of nandrolone on the exercise-induced cardioprotection in perfused rat heart subjected to ischemia and reperfusion.

PURPOSE: Myocardial tolerance to ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is improved by exercise training, but this cardioprotection is impaired by the chronic use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS). The present study evaluated whether blockade of angiotensin II receptor (AT1-R) with losartan and aldosterone receptor (mineralocorticoid receptor, MR) with spironolactone could prevent the deleterious effect of AAS on the exercise-induced cardioprotection. METHODS AND RESULTS: Male Wistar rats were exercised and treated with either vehicle, nandrolone decanoate (10 mg/kg/week i.m.) or the same dose of nandrolone plus losartan or spironolactone (20 mg/kg/day orally) for 8 weeks. Langendorff-perfused hearts were subjected to I/R and evaluated for the postischaemic recovery of left ventricle (LV) function and infarct size. mRNA and protein expression of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1-R), mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), and KATP channels were determined by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Postischaemic recovery of LV function was better and infarct size was smaller in the exercised rat hearts than in the sedentary rat hearts. Nandrolone impaired the exercise-induced cardioprotection, but this effect was prevented by losartan (AT1-R antagonist) and spironolactone (MR antagonist) treatments. Myocardial AT1-R and MR expression levels were increased, and the expression of the KATP channel subunits SUR2a and Kir6.1 was decreased and Kir6.2 increased in the nandrolone-treated rat hearts. The nandrolone-induced changes of AT1-R, MR, and KATP subunits expression was normalized by the losartan and spironolactone treatments. CONCLUSION: The chronic nandrolone treatment impairs the exercise-induced cardioprotection against ischaemia/reperfusion injury by activating the cardiac renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and downregulating KATP channel expression.

A novel Ca2+ channel antagonist reverses cardiac hypertrophy and pulmonary arteriolar remodeling in experimental pulmonary hypertension.

This work investigates the actions of LASSBio-1289, (E)-N-methyl-N'-(thiophen-3-methylene)benzo[d][1,3]dioxole-5-carbohydrazide, on monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in rats. Two weeks following the MCT injection, LASSBio-1289 (50 or 75mg/kg, p.o.) or vehicle was administrated once daily for 14 days. LASSBio-1289 (75 mg/kg) treatment caused a significant decrease in right ventricular systolic pressure (31.89±0.82 mmHg) compared to the MCT-vehicle group (52.74±6.19 mmHg; P<0.05). Oral treatment with LASSBio-1289 (50 or 75 mg/kg) effectively decreased pulmonary artery diameter and right ventricle (RV) area, assessed by echocardiography. LASSBio-1289 (75 mg/kg) reduced RV area (10.00±0.58 mm(2)) compared to the MCT-vehicle group (20.50±1.44 mm(2); P<0.05). LASSBio-1289 (75 mg/kg) also partially recovered the pulmonary artery acceleration time in MCT-treated rats. Oral treatment with LASSBio-1289 (50mg/kg) decreased the pulmonary arteriolar wall thickness (68.57±2.21%) compared to the MCT-vehicle group (81.07±1.92%; P<0.05). In experiments with isolated pulmonary arteries, the concentration of LASSBio-1289 necessary to produce 50% relaxation in the phenylephrine- or KCl-induced contraction was 27.31±6.94 and 2.72±0.99 µM, respectively, P<0.05. In the presence of LASSBio-1289 (50 µM), the maximal contraction induced by 10mM CaCl2 was reduced to 36.00±8.28% of the maximal contraction of the control curve (P<0.05). LASSBio-1289 was effective in attenuating MCT-induced PAH in rats, and its beneficial effects were likely mediated by the inhibition of extracellular Ca(2+) influx through L-type voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels in the pulmonary artery.

Could a high-fat diet rich in unsaturated fatty acids impair the cardiovascular system?

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidemia results from consumption of a diet rich in saturated fatty acids and is usually associated with cardiovascular disease. A diet rich in unsaturated fatty acids is usually associated with improved cardiovascular condition. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether a high-fat diet rich in unsaturated fatty acids (U-HFD) - in which fatty acid represents approximately 45% of the total calories - impairs the cardiovascular system. METHODS: Male, 30-day-old Wistar rats were fed a standard (control) diet or a U-HFD containing 83% unsaturated fatty acid for 19 weeks. The in vivo electrocardiogram, the spectral analysis of heart rate variability, and the vascular reactivity responses to phenylephrine, acetylcholine, noradrenaline and prazosin in aortic ring preparations were analyzed to assess the cardiovascular parameters. RESULTS: After 19 weeks, the U-HFD rats had increased total body fat, baseline glucose levels and feed efficiency compared with control rats. However, the final body weight, systolic blood pressure, area under the curve for glucose, calorie intake and heart weight/final body weight ratio were similar between the groups. In addition, both groups demonstrated no alteration in the electrocardiogram or cardiac sympathetic parameters. There was no difference in the responses to acetylcholine or the maximal contractile response of the thoracic aorta to phenylephrine between groups, but the concentration necessary to produce 50% of maximal response showed a decrease in the sensitivity to phenylephrine in U-HFD rats. The cumulative concentration- effect curve for noradrenaline in the presence of prazosin was shifted similarly in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The present work shows that U-HFD did not impair the cardiovascular parameters analyzed.

Chronic treatment with anabolic steroids induces ventricular repolarization disturbances: cellular, ionic and molecular mechanism.

The illicit use of supraphysiological doses of androgenic steroids (AAS) has been suggested as a cause of arrhythmia in athletes. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the time-course and the cellular, ionic and molecular processes underlying ventricular repolarization in rats chronically treated with AAS. Male Wistar rats were treated weekly for 8 weeks with 10mg/kg of nandrolone decanoate (DECA n=21) or vehicle (control n=20). ECG was recorded weekly. Action potential (AP) and transient outward potassium current (I(to)) were recorded in rat hearts. Expression of KChIP2, Kv1.4, Kv4.2, and Kv4.3 was assessed by real-time PCR. Hematoxylin/eosin and Picrosirius red staining were used for histological analysis. QTc was greater in the DECA group. After DECA treatment the left, but not right, ventricle showed a longer AP duration than did the control. I(to) current densities were 47.5% lower in the left but not in the right ventricle after DECA. In the right ventricle the I(to) inactivation time-course was slower than in the control group. After DECA the left ventricle showed lower KChIP2 ( approximately 26%), Kv1.4 ( approximately 23%) and 4.3 ( approximately 70%) expression while the Kv 4.2 increased in 4 ( approximately 250%) and diminished in 3 ( approximately 30%) animals of this group. In the right ventricle the expression of I(to) subunits was similar between the treatment and control groups. DECA-treated hearts had 25% fewer nuclei and greater nuclei diameters in both ventricles. Our results strongly suggest that supraphysiological doses of AAS induce morphological remodeling in both ventricles. However, the electrical remodeling was mainly observed in the left ventricle.

Role of autoantibodies in the physiopathology of Chagas' disease.

Chagas' disease is a serious health problem in Latin America. Between 25 to 30% of the infected patients develop the chronic form of the disease, with progressive myocardial damage and often, sudden death. Adrenergic or cholinergic antibodies with G-protein coupled membrane receptor activity may be present in the sera of these patients. The present study discusses the etiology and the contribution of antibodies to the physiopathology of Chagas' disease.

Envolvimento de auto-anticorpos na fisiopatologia da Doença de Chagas / Role of autoantibodies in the physiopathology of chagas' disease

A doença de Chagas é um sério problema de saúde na América Latina. Entre 25 por cento e 30 por cento dos pacientes infectados evoluem para a forma crônica (CCC), observando-se danos miocárdicos progressivos e, freqüentemente, morte súbita. Anticorpos com atividade para receptores de membrana acoplados a proteína G, adrenérgicos ou colinérgicos podem estar presentes no soro desses pacientes. No presente artigo serão discutidas a etiologia e a contribuição dos anticorpos na fisiopatologia da doença de Chagas.

Chagas' disease is a serious health problem in Latin America. Between 25 to 30% of the infected patients develop the chronic form of the disease, with progressive myocardial damage and often, sudden death. Adrenergic or cholinergic antibodies with G-protein coupled membrane receptor activity may be present in the sera of these patients. The present study discusses the etiology and the contribution of antibodies to the physiopathology of Chagas' disease.

Cardioprotective properties of humoral factors released from rat hearts subject to ischemic preconditioning.

Myocardial protection can be achieved by transfer of coronary effluent from ischemically preconditioned to non-preconditioned hearts. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that preconditioned effluent from rat hearts purified by Sep-Pak C-18 cartridges could induce remote cardioprotection against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury through the activation of protein kinase C signaling pathway. Buffer-perfused rat hearts were subject to 30 min ischemia and 60 min reperfusion. The myocardial I/R injury was assessed by postischemic contractile function recovery and infarct size. The protective effect of coronary effluent collected during ischemic preconditioning (IPC) was tested in non-preconditioned hearts in presence or absence of a PKC inhibitor, chelerythrine. Infarct size was 17 +/- 2% in preconditioned versus 37 +/- 1% in control hearts (P < 0.001). Hearts perfused with fresh preconditioned effluent had infarct sizes of 16 +/- 3% versus 36 +/- 1% in hearts treated with non-preconditioned effluent. The cardioprotective effect was lost when the effluent was left at room temperature during 24 h (infarct size, 40 +/- 3%) or heated to 70 degrees C (26 +/- 4%, P < 0.05) or 100 degrees C (39 +/- 1%, P < 0.001). The lyophilized effluent was stable for 30 days, and its purification in a Sep-Pak C-18 column resulted in a hydrophobic fraction that reduced the infarct size to 17 +/- 2% versus 38 +/- 2% for the hydrophilic fraction. Chelerythrine (100 microM) inhibited the reduction of infarct size induced by IPC (35 +/- 4%) or hydrophobic fraction (37 +/- 3%). Recovery of the contractile function at reperfusion was higher in preconditioned group (74 +/- 6% versus 17 +/- 7% in control, P < 0.001) and hydrophobic fraction (66 +/- 7% versus 8 +/- 4% in hydrophilic fraction, P < 0.001). Similarly, chelerythrine was able to abrogate the contractile function recovery (12 +/- 6%, P < 0.001 versus preconditioned group and 19 +/- 7%, P < 0.001 versus hydrophobic fraction). In conclusion, the cardioprotective factors released in the coronary effluent by IPC are thermolabile hydrophobic substances with molecular weights higher than 3.5 kDa and acting through PKC activation.

Nandrolone decanoate impairs exercise-induced cardioprotection: role of antioxidant enzymes.

The beneficial effects of exercise in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular diseases are well known and the abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) has been associated to cardiovascular disorders. Previous studies showed that heart protection to ischemic events would be mediated by increasing the antioxidant enzyme activities. Here, we investigated the impact of exercise and high doses of the AAS nandrolone decanoate (DECA), 10 mgkg(-1) body weight during 8 weeks, in cardiac tolerance to ischemic events as well as on the activity of antioxidant enzymes in rats. After a global ischemic event, hearts of control trained (CT) group recovered about 70% of left ventricular developed pressure, whereas DECA trained (DT), control sedentary (CS) and DECA sedentary (DS) animals recovered only about 20%. Similarly, heart infarct size was significantly lower in the CT group compared to animals of the three other groups. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) were significantly higher in CT animals than in the other three groups, whereas catalase activity was not affected in any group. Together, these results indicate that chronic treatment with DECA cause an impairment of exercise induction of antioxidant enzyme activities, leading to a reduced cardioprotection upon ischemic events.