RÉSUMÉ
Hyperlipidemia is a well-established risk factor for the development of coronary atherosclerosis, while intermedin (IMD) has been identified as a novel calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related peptide family member involved in cardiovascular protection. However, whether IMD protects against hyperlipidemia-associated myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury is unknown. We established a hyperlipidemia model using Sprague-Dawley rats, and created a MI/R condition by ligating the cardiac left circumflex artery. The possible pathophysiological role of IMD and its physiological function in MI/R was further studied. The level of IMD significantly decreased in hyperlipidemia rats (P < 0.05). After MI/R, the IMD level was increased both in the plasma and myocardial tissue of hyperlipidemia rats compared to the sham-operated rats (P < 0.001). As evaluated by the activity of LDH, CK-MB, MDA and SOD, additional IMD was revealed to alleviate MI/R heart injury in hyperlipidemia rats (P < 0.05). By regulating the process of cardiomyocyte apoptosis and inflammatory reaction, IMD could perform an important role in cardio-protection, especially against hyperlipidemia-associated MI/R injury. Additional IMD could protect cardiac myocytes against MI/R injury via reduction of apoptosis and inflammation in the hyperlipidemia rat model, and thus, it may play a potential role as a novel therapeutic target for cardiac ischemic injury in hyperlipidemic patients.