Cerebral blood volume estimation by ferumoxytol-enhanced steady-state MRI at 9.4 T reveals microvascular impact of α1 -adrenergic receptor antibodies.

Cerebrovascular abnormality is frequently accompanied by cognitive dysfunctions, such as dementia. Antibodies against the α1 -adrenoceptor (α1 -AR) can be found in patients with Alzheimer's disease with cerebrovascular disease, and have been shown to affect the larger vessels of the brain in rodents. However, the impact of α1 -AR antibodies on the cerebral vasculature remains unclear. In the present study, we established a neuroimaging method to measure the relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) in small rodents with the ultimate goal to detect changes in blood vessel density and/or vessel size induced by α1 -AR antibodies. For this purpose, mapping of R2 * and R2 was performed using MRI at 9.4 T, before and after the injection of intravascular iron oxide particles (ferumoxytol). The change in the transverse relaxation rates (ΔR2 *, ΔR2 ) showed a significant rCBV decrease in the cerebrum, cortex and hippocampus of rats (except hippocampal ΔR2 ), which was more pronounced for ΔR2 * than for ΔR2 . Immunohistological analyses confirmed that the α1 -AR antibody induced blood vessel deficiencies. Our findings support the hypothesis that α1 -AR antibodies lead to cerebral vessel damage throughout the brain, which can be monitored by MRI-derived rCBV, a non-invasive neuroimaging method. This demonstrates the value of rCBV estimation by ferumoxytol-enhanced MRI at 9.4 T, and further underlines the significance of this antibody in brain diseases involving vasculature impairments, such as dementia.

Hemorrhagic shock induces a proinflammatory milieu in the gut lumen.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal injury is a consequence of hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation. The intestinal mucosa has been shown to respond to ischemia/reperfusion injury with production of inflammatory mediators. Previous work in our laboratory indicates that intestinal epithelial cells secrete proinflammatory cytokines in the direction of both the lamina propria and intestinal lumen. The ability of the intestinal mucosa to transmit inflammatory signals into the gut lumen after hemorrhagic shock is unknown. We hypothesized that hemorrhagic shock results in secretion of proinflammatory cytokines into the gut lumen. METHODS: Male C57/Bl6 mice underwent femoral artery cannulation and hemorrhage to a systolic blood pressure of 20 mmHg for 1 h, then resuscitation with lactated Ringer's (LR) solution. Sham animals were cannulated only. Mice were decannulated and sacrificed at intervals. Stool and succus were removed from intestinal segments, weighed, and placed into buffer solution. Specimens were analyzed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Compared with sham-injured mice, hemorrhagic shock resulted in increased intestinal luminal cytokines. At 3 h after injury, elevated levels of IL-6 were found in the cecal stool. At 6 h after injury, TNFα, IL-6, and MIP-2 were significantly elevated in the cecal stool, and IL-6 and MIP-2 were significantly elevated in the distal colonic stool. CONCLUSIONS: Hemorrhagic shock results in secretion of proinflammatory cytokines into the intestinal lumen. These findings suggest that the intestinal mucosa may transmit and receive signals in a paracrine fashion via the gut lumen.

Apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptide treatment inhibits inflammatory responses and improves survival in septic rats.

Systemic inflammation induces a multiple organ dysfunction syndrome that contributes to morbidity and mortality in septic patients. Since increasing plasma apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and HDL may reduce the complications of sepsis, we tested the hypothesis that the apoA-I mimetic peptide 4F confers similar protective effects in rats undergoing cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) injury. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to undergo CLP or sham surgery. IL-6 levels were significantly elevated in plasma by 6 h after CLP surgery compared with shams. In subsequent studies, CLP rats were further subdivided to receive vehicle or 4F (10 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection, 6 h after sepsis induction. Sham-operated rats received saline. Echocardiographic studies showed a reduction in left ventricular end-diastolic volume, stroke volume, and cardiac output (CO) 24 h after CLP surgery. These changes were associated with reduced blood volume and left ventricular filling pressure. 4F treatment improved blood volume status, increased CO, and reduced plasma IL-6 in CLP rats. Total cholesterol (TC) and HDL were 79 +/- 5 and 61 +/- 4 mg/dl, respectively, in sham rats. TC was significantly reduced in CLP rats (54 +/- 3 mg/dl) due to a reduction in HDL (26 +/- 3 mg/dl). 4F administration to CLP rats attenuated the reduction in TC (69 +/- 4 mg/dl) and HDL (41 +/- 3 mg/dl) and prevented sepsis-induced changes in HDL protein composition. Increased plasma HDL in 4F-treated CLP rats was associated with an improvement in CO and reduced mortality. It is proposed that protective effects of 4F are related to its ability to prevent the sepsis-induced reduction in plasma HDL.

Total hepatic ischemia and reperfusion after state controlled hemorrhagic shock, with used of different solutions: effects of neutrophils sequestration in kidney of rats

OBJETIVO: Avaliar e comparar o seqüestro de neutrófilos no rim de rato, como efeito da isquemia e reperfusão hepática total após estado de choque hemorrágico controlado, com uso de diferentes soluções eletrolíticas.MÉTODOS: Utilizou-se 18 ratos Wistar, machos, adultos, divididos em três grupos conforme a solução utilizada para reanimação: Grupo SF: solução fisiológica; Grupo SH: solução hipertônica de NaCl a 7,5% seguido pela solução de ringer com lactato; Grupo RL: solução de ringer com lactato. Todos os animais foram submetidos à sangria controlada até pressão arterial média (PAM) atingir 40 mmHg, permanecendo por 20 minutos. Realizou-se reanimação volêmica até PAM=80 mmHg com a solução conforme o grupo estudado. Em seguida realizou-se uma laparotomia e a manobra de Pringle por 15 minutos. Os animais foram acompanhados até duas horas. Para comparações estatísticas entre as contagens de neutrófilos, no interstício do córtex renal, foram efetuados os testes ANOVA e a análise de covariância, ajustando-se para o tempo de sobrevida. Os parâmetros hemodinâmicos avaliados foram: PAM, freqüência cardíaca, índice cardíaco, índice de resistência vascular sistêmica. As variáveis metabólicas analisadas foram: pH, bicarbonato, reserva de base e lactato, além de eletrólitos. RESULTADOS: Os valores médios de tempo de sobrevida, em minutos, por grupo foram: Grupo SF 79,0±12,0; Grupo RL 97,0±11,0; Grupo SH 67,0±10. Os valores médios da contagem de neutrófilos/campo no córtex renal foram: Grupo SF 0,55±0,68; Grupo RL 1,68±0,53; Grupo SH 1,33±0,43. E quando são ajustados para o tempo de sobrevida encontram-se: Grupo SF 0,55; Grupo RL 1,62; Grupo SH 1,39. Houve diferença estatisticamente significativa, na contagem de neutrófilo entre o Grupo SF com os demais, usando-se ou não o ajuste pelo tempo de sobrevida (p=0,016 e p=0,0128). CONCLUSAO: As duas situações críticas, choque hemorrágico controlado e manobra de Pringle, promoveram seqüestro de neutrófilos no interstício renal do rato, sendo a solução fisiológica com a menor média, diferenciando estatisticamente das demais soluções, neste modelo.