Age- and sex-dependent cardiovascular impact of maternal perinatal stress and altered dopaminergic metabolism in the medulla oblongata of the offspring.

Maternal major depressive disorder with peripartum onset presents health risks to the mother and the developing fetus. Using a rat model of chronic mild stress, we previously reported on the neurodevelopmental impact of maternal perinatal stress on their offspring. This study examined the cardiovascular impact of maternal perinatal stress on their offspring. The cardiovascular impact was assessed in terms of blood pressure and echocardiographic parameters. The results examined by a three-way ANOVA showed a significant association of cardiovascular parameters with maternal perinatal stress and offspring sex and age. Increased blood pressure was observed in adolescent female and adult male offspring of stress-exposed dams. Echocardiography showed an increase in left atrial dimension and a reduction in left ventricular systolic function in adolescent stress-exposed female offspring. Increased interventricular septum thickness at end-diastole and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction were observed in adult stress-exposed male offspring. The underlying mechanisms of cardiovascular impact were examined in stress-exposed adult offspring by assessing the levels of neurotransmitters and their metabolites in the medulla oblongata using high-performance liquid chromatography. A significant decrease in homovanillic acid, a dopamine metabolite and indicator of dopaminergic activity, was observed in adult stress-exposed female offspring. These results suggest a significant sex- and age-dependent impact of maternal stress during the peripartum period on the cardiovascular system in the offspring that extends to adulthood and suggests a multigenerational effect. The presented data urgently need follow-up to confirm their potential clinical and public health relevance.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We demonstrate that maternal perinatal stress is associated with sex- and age-dependent impact on the cardiovascular system in their offspring. The effect was most significant in adolescent female and adult male offspring. Observed changes in hemodynamic parameters and dopaminergic activity of the medulla oblongata are novel results relevant to understanding the cardiovascular impact of maternal perinatal stress on the offspring. The cardiovascular changes observed in adult offspring suggest a potential long-term, multigenerational impact of maternal perinatal stress.

The Role of Opioid Receptor Antagonists in Regulation of Blood Pressure and T-Cell Activation in Mice Selected for High Analgesia Induced by Swim Stress.

Opioid peptides and their G protein-coupled receptors are important regulators within the cardiovascular system, implicated in the modulation of both heart and vascular functions. It is known that naloxone-an opioid antagonist-may exert a hypertensive effect. Recent experimental and clinical evidence supports the important role of inflammatory mechanisms in hypertension. Since opioids may play a role in the regulation of both blood pressure and immune response, we studied these two processes in our model. We aimed to evaluate the effect of selective and non-selective opioid receptor antagonists on blood pressure and T-cell activation in a mouse model of high swim stress-induced analgesia. Blood pressure was measured before and during the infusion of opioid receptor antagonists using a non-invasive tail-cuff measurement system. To assess the activation of T-cells, flow cytometry was used. We discovered that the non-selective antagonism of the opioid system by naloxone caused a significant elevation of blood pressure. The selective antagonism of µ and κ but not δ opioid receptors significantly increased systolic blood pressure. Subsequently, a brief characterization of T-cell subsets was performed. We found that the blockade of µ and δ receptors is associated with the increased expression of CD69 on CD4 T-cells. Moreover, we observed an increase in the central memory CD4 and central memory CD8 T-cell populations after the δ opioid receptor blockade. The antagonism of the µ opioid receptor increased the CD8 effector and central memory T-cell populations.

Complementary Role of Oxytocin and Vasopressin in Cardiovascular Regulation.

The neurons secreting oxytocin (OXY) and vasopressin (AVP) are located mainly in the supraoptic, paraventricular, and suprachiasmatic nucleus of the brain. Oxytocinergic and vasopressinergic projections reach several regions of the brain and the spinal cord. Both peptides are released from axons, soma, and dendrites and modulate the excitability of other neuroregulatory pathways. The synthesis and action of OXY and AVP in the peripheral organs (eye, heart, gastrointestinal system) is being investigated. The secretion of OXY and AVP is influenced by changes in body fluid osmolality, blood volume, blood pressure, hypoxia, and stress. Vasopressin interacts with three subtypes of receptors: V1aR, V1bR, and V2R whereas oxytocin activates its own OXTR and V1aR receptors. AVP and OXY receptors are present in several regions of the brain (cortex, hypothalamus, pons, medulla, and cerebellum) and in the peripheral organs (heart, lungs, carotid bodies, kidneys, adrenal glands, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, ovaries, uterus, thymus). Hypertension, myocardial infarction, and coexisting factors, such as pain and stress, have a significant impact on the secretion of oxytocin and vasopressin and on the expression of their receptors. The inappropriate regulation of oxytocin and vasopressin secretion during ischemia, hypoxia/hypercapnia, inflammation, pain, and stress may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases.

The Logic of Carotid Body Connectivity to the Brain.

The carotid body has emerged as a therapeutic target for cardio-respiratory-metabolic diseases. With the expansive functions of the chemoreflex, we sought mechanisms to explain differential control of individual responses. We purport a remarkable correlation between phenotype of a chemosensory unit (glomus cell-sensory afferent) with a distinct component of the reflex response. This logic could permit differential modulation of distinct chemoreflex responses, a strategy ideal for therapeutic exploitation.

Tumour necrosis factor and interleukin 10 in blood pressure regulation in spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rats.

INTRODUCTION: A growing body of evidence indicates that brain cytokines are involved in the control of the cardiovascular system. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is an archetypal cytokine, which exerts its proinflammatory actions via type 1 receptor (TNFR1). Interleukin 10 (IL-10) plays a critical anti-inflammatory role by binding to its receptor (IL-10Ra). The orchestrated inflammatory response is largely dependent on an intricate balance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and expression of their receptors. AIM: In the study we evaluated the expression of the cytokines and their receptors in the brains of spontaneously hypertensive (SH) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, and how the cytokines affect arterial blood pressure. METHODS: In SH and WKY rats we recorded systolic blood pressure with tail cuff method and measured concentration of TNF, IL-10, TNFR1, and IL-10Ra in the serum, the brainstem, and the hypothalamus; we also measured serum concentrations of copeptin, a surrogate of vasopressin release, angiotensin II and norepinephrine. We immunostained brainstem sections for TNFR1, IL-10Ra, neurons, astrocytes and microglia for confocal imaging. In urethane anaesthetized SH and WKY rats, we invasively recorded blood pressure response to intracerebroventricular (IVC) infusion of TNF or IL-10. We also pharmacologically evaluated baroreflex with phenylephrine and chemoreflex with cyanide in SH and WKY rats. RESULTS: Compared to WKY rats, SH rats had: (1) higher blood pressure; (2) blunted baroreflex and augmented peripheral chemoreflex; (3) greater pressor response to ICV infused TNF and greater hypotensive response to ICV infused IL-10; (4) higher concentration of TNF in the ventral and dorsal aspects of the medulla oblongata; (5) higher expression of TNFR1 in the dorsal medulla; (6) higher concentration of IL-10 in both aspects of the medulla; (7) lower expression of IL-10Ra in the dorsal medulla. Confocal imaging showed co-localization of TNFR1 and IL-10Ra with neurons, astrocytes and microglia in both SH and WKY rats. The concentration of the cytokines and their receptors were significantly higher in the brain than in the serum. There were no significant differences in the concentration of the cytokines and their receptors in the hypothalamic region and in the serum between SH and WKY rats. Serum concentrations of norepinephrine, angiotensin II and copeptin were similar between SH and WKY rats. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these findings suggest the presence of a potent milieu for effective TNF signalling in the brainstem, which is associated with the hypertensive phenotype and enhanced hemodynamic response to intrabrain administration of the cytokines. In addition, we hypothesize that the increased IL-10 concentration in the brainstem is a compensatory mechanism for the upregulated TNF system.

The role of apelin in central cardiovascular regulation in rats with post-infarct heart failure maintained on a normal fat or high fat diet.

Based on the available literature, it can be assumed that in cases of post-infarct heart failure (HF) and obesity, a significant change in the central regulation of the cardiovascular system takes place with, among others, the involvement of the apelinergic system. The main objective of the present study was to clarify the role of apelin-13 in the central regulation of the cardiovascular system in Sprague Dawley rats with HF or sham operated (SO) and fed on a normal fat (NFD) or a high fat diet (HFD). The study was divided into two parts: Part I, hemodynamic studies; and Part II, biochemical and molecular studies. The animals were subjected to the following research procedures. Part I and II: feeding NFD or HFD; experimental induction of HF or SO; Part I: intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of the examined substances, monitoring of mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and heart rate (HR); Part II: venous blood and tissue samples collected. ICV infusion of apelin-13 caused significantly higher changes in ΔMABP in the SO NFD group. No changes were noted in ΔHR in any of the studied groups. Apelin and apelin receptor (APJ) mRNA expression in the brain and adipose tissues was higher in the HF rats. HFD causes significant increase in expression of apelin and APJ mRNA in the left ventricle. In conclusion, HF and HFD appear to play an important role in modifying the activity of the central apelinergic system and significant changes in mRNA expression of apelin and APJ receptor.

TNF and angiotensin type 1 receptors interact in the brain control of blood pressure in heart failure.

UNLABELLED: Accumulating evidence suggests that the brain renin-angiotensin system and proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, play a key role in the neurohormonal activation in chronic heart failure (HF). In this study we tested the involvement of TNF-α and angiotensin type 1 receptors (AT1Rs) in the central control of the cardiovascular system in HF rats. METHODS: we carried out the study on male Sprague-Dawley rats subjected to the left coronary artery ligation (HF rats) or to sham surgery (sham-operated rats). The rats were pretreated for four weeks with intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of either saline (0.25µl/h) or TNF-α inhibitor etanercept (0.25µg/0.25µl/h). At the end of the pretreatment period, we measured mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and heart rate (HR) at baseline and during 60min of ICV administration of either saline (5µl/h) or AT1Rs antagonist losartan (10µg/5µl/h). After the experiments, we measured the left ventricle end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and the size of myocardial scar. RESULTS: MABP and HR of sham-operated and HF rats were not affected by pretreatments with etanercept or saline alone. In sham-operated rats the ICV infusion of losartan did not affect MABP either in saline or in etanercept pretreated rats. In contrast, in HF rats the ICV infusion of losartan significantly decreased MABP in rats pretreated with saline, but not in those pretreated with etanercept. LVEDP was significantly elevated in HF rats but not in sham-operated ones. Surface of the infarct scar exceeded 30% of the left ventricle in HF groups, whereas sham-operated rats did not manifest evidence of cardiac scarring. CONCLUSIONS: our study provides evidence that in rats with post-infarction heart failure the regulation of blood pressure by AT1Rs depends on centrally acting endogenous TNF-α.

Imaging and identification of endogenous peptides from rat pituitary embedded in egg yolk.

RATIONALE: Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) can provide accurate data containing the spatial distribution of endogenous peptides in tissue sections without previous treatment. One of the key issues in analyzing small samples is establishing a proper technique for mounting and manipulating collected tissue in order to avoid contamination of the sample with optimal cutting temperature (OCT) resin. METHODS: We present a method for embedding rat pituitary tissue in a frozen egg yolk block, which enables its further imaging in experiments on a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometer with time-of-flight (TOF) analyzer. Embedding the sample in the egg yolk prevents contamination from the OCT resin, which decreases MALDI signal quality. RESULTS: In the present study we detected numerous m/z peaks related to endogenous peptides. We identified fifteen peptides and their post-translational modifications by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) directly on tissue sections of the hypophysis posterior and intermediate lobes; among these peptides were vasopressin, oxytocin, copeptin, melanocyte-stimulating hormones and beta-endorphin. We also showed that egg yolk itself does not affect localization of peptides in the pituitary. CONCLUSIONS: Egg yolk embedding enables preparation of tissue sections from small tissue fragments to organs such as the pituitary gland, which is suitable for localization and identification of endogenous peptides by the MALDI-MSI and MALDI-MS/MS techniques.

Post-myocardial infarction heart failure and long-term high-fat diet: Cardiac endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response in Sprague Dawley rat model.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction (MI) significantly contributes to the global mortality rate, often leading to heart failure (HF) due to left ventricular remodeling. Key factors in the pathomechanism of HF include nitrosative/oxidative stress, inflammation, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Furthermore, while a high-fat diet (HFD) is known to exacerbate post-MI cardiac remodeling, its impact on these critical factors in the context of HF is not as well understood. AIMS: This study aimed to assess the impact of post-MI HF and HFD on inflammation, nitro-oxidative stress, ER stress, and unfolded protein response (UPR). METHODS: The study was performed on fragments of the left ventricle harvested from 30 male adult Sprague Dawley rats, which were divided into four groups based on diet (normal-fat vs. high-fat) and surgical procedure (sham operation vs. coronary artery ligation to induce MI). We assessed body weight, NT-proBNP levels, protein levels related to nitrosative/oxidative stress, ER stress, UPR, apoptosis, and nitric oxide synthases, through Western Blot and ELISA. RESULTS: HFD and MI significantly influenced body weight and NT-proBNP concentrations. HFD elevated 3-nitrotyrosine and myeloperoxidase levels and altered nitric oxide synthase levels. HFD and MI significantly affected ER stress markers and activated or inhibited UPR pathways. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates significant impacts of post-MI HF and dietary fat content on cardiac function and stress markers in a rat model. The interaction between HFD and MI on UPR activation suggests the importance of dietary management in post-MI recovery and HF prevention.

The sympathetic nervous system exacerbates carotid body sensitivity in hypertension.

AIMS: The carotid bodies (CBs) of spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats exhibit hypertonicity and hyperreflexia contributing to heightened peripheral sympathetic outflow. We hypothesized that CB hyperexcitability is driven by its own sympathetic innervation. METHODS AND RESULTS: To test this, the chemoreflex was activated (NaCN 50-100 µL, 0.4 µg/µL) in SH and Wistar rats in situ before and after: (i) electrical stimulation (ES; 30 Hz, 2 ms, 10 V) of the superior cervical ganglion (SCG), which innervates the CB; (ii) unilateral resection of the SCG (SCGx); (iii) CB injections of an α1-adrenergic receptor agonist (phenylephrine, 50 µL, 1 mmol/L), and (iv) α1-adrenergic receptor antagonist prazosin (40 µL, 1 mmol/L) or tamsulosin (50 µL, 1 mmol/L). ES of the SCG enhanced CB-evoked sympathoexcitation by 40-50% (P < 0.05) with no difference between rat strains. Unilateral SCGx attenuated the CB-evoked sympathoexcitation in SH (62%; P < 0.01) but was without effect in Wistar rats; it also abolished the ongoing firing of chemoreceptive petrosal neurones of SH rats, which became hyperpolarized. In Wistar rats, CB injections of phenylephrine enhanced CB-evoked sympathoexcitation (33%; P < 0.05), which was prevented by prazosin (26%; P < 0.05) in SH rats. Tamsulosin alone reproduced the effects of prazosin in SH rats and prevented the sensitizing effect of the SCG following ES. Within the CB, α1A- and α1B-adrenoreceptors were co-localized on both glomus cells and blood vessels. In conscious SH rats instrumented for recording blood pressure (BP), the CB-evoked pressor response was attenuated after SCGx, and systolic BP fell by 16 ± 4.85 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS: The sympathetic innervation of the CB is tonically activated and sensitizes the CB of SH but not Wistar rats. Furthermore, sensitization of CB-evoked reflex sympathoexcitation appears to be mediated by α1-adrenoceptors located either on the vasculature and/or glomus cells. The SCG is novel target for controlling CB pathophysiology in hypertension.

Respiratory-cardiovascular interactions.

Much of biology is rhythmical and comprises oscillators that can couple. These have optimized energy efficiency and have been preserved during evolution. The respiratory and cardiovascular systems contain numerous oscillators, and importantly, they couple. This coupling is dynamic but essential for an efficient transmission of neural information critical for the precise linking of breathing and oxygen delivery while permitting adaptive responses to changes in state. The respiratory pattern generator and the neural network responsible for sympathetic and cardiovagal (parasympathetic) tone generation interact at many levels ensuring that cardiac output and regional blood flow match oxygen delivery to the lungs and tissues efficiently. The most classic manifestations of these interactions are respiratory sinus arrhythmia and the respiratory modulation of sympathetic nerve activity. These interactions derive from shared somatic and cardiopulmonary afferent inputs, reciprocal interactions between brainstem networks and inputs from supra-pontine regions. Disrupted respiratory-cardiovascular coupling can result in disease, where it may further the pathophysiological sequelae and be a harbinger of poor outcomes. This has been well documented by diminished respiratory sinus arrhythmia and altered respiratory sympathetic coupling in animal models and/or patients with myocardial infarction, heart failure, diabetes mellitus, and neurological disorders as stroke, brain trauma, Parkinson disease, or epilepsy. Future research needs to assess the therapeutic potential for ameliorating respiratory-cardiovascular coupling in disease.

Multiple Aspects of Inappropriate Action of Renin-Angiotensin, Vasopressin, and Oxytocin Systems in Neuropsychiatric and Neurodegenerative Diseases.

The cardiovascular system and the central nervous system (CNS) closely cooperate in the regulation of primary vital functions. The autonomic nervous system and several compounds known as cardiovascular factors, especially those targeting the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), the vasopressin system (VPS), and the oxytocin system (OTS), are also efficient modulators of several other processes in the CNS. The components of the RAS, VPS, and OTS, regulating pain, emotions, learning, memory, and other cognitive processes, are present in the neurons, glial cells, and blood vessels of the CNS. Increasing evidence shows that the combined function of the RAS, VPS, and OTS is altered in neuropsychiatric/neurodegenerative diseases, and in particular in patients with depression, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, autism, and schizophrenia. The altered function of the RAS may also contribute to CNS disorders in COVID-19. In this review, we present evidence that there are multiple causes for altered combined function of the RAS, VPS, and OTS in psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, such as genetic predispositions and the engagement of the RAS, VAS, and OTS in the processes underlying emotions, memory, and cognition. The neuroactive pharmaceuticals interfering with the synthesis or the action of angiotensins, vasopressin, and oxytocin can improve or worsen the effectiveness of treatment for neuropsychiatric/neurodegenerative diseases. Better knowledge of the multiple actions of the RAS, VPS, and OTS may facilitate programming the most efficient treatment for patients suffering from the comorbidity of neuropsychiatric/neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases.

Early high-sodium solid diet does not affect sodium intake, sodium preference, blood volume and blood pressure in adult Wistar-Kyoto rats.

A high-Na diet may lead to the development of hypertension in both humans and rats; however, the causes of Na intake in amounts greater than physiologically needed as well as the mechanisms whereby high-Na food elevates blood pressure are not clear. Therefore, we decided to test the hypothesis that a high-Na diet introduced after suckling affects Na intake, food preference, resting blood pressure and blood volume in adult rats. Male Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, 4 weeks old, were divided into three groups and placed on either a high-Na (3.28%), a medium-Na (0.82%) or a regular diet (0.22%) with the same energy content for 8 weeks. Subsequently, food preference, resting arterial blood pressure, blood volume, plasma osmolality and Na blood level were evaluated. When offered a choice of diets, all the groups preferred the regular chow, and there was no significant difference in total Na intake between the groups. When the rats experienced the change from their initial chow to a new one with different Na content, they continued to eat the same amount of food. Body weight, resting arterial blood pressure, blood volume, plasma osmolality and Na blood level were comparable between the groups. In conclusion, the results show that a high-Na diet introduced immediately after suckling does not affect Na preference and Na intake in adult WKY rats. Furthermore, the findings provide evidence that both blood volume and arterial blood pressure are highly protected in normotensive rats on a high-Na diet.

Vasopressin and Breathing: Review of Evidence for Respiratory Effects of the Antidiuretic Hormone.

Vasopressin (AVP) is a key neurohormone involved in the regulation of body functions. Due to its urine-concentrating effect in the kidneys, it is often referred to as antidiuretic hormone. Besides its antidiuretic renal effects, AVP is a potent neurohormone involved in the regulation of arterial blood pressure, sympathetic activity, baroreflex sensitivity, glucose homeostasis, release of glucocorticoids and catecholamines, stress response, anxiety, memory, and behavior. Vasopressin is synthesized in the paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic nuclei (SON) of the hypothalamus and released into the circulation from the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland together with a C-terminal fragment of pro-vasopressin, known as copeptin. Additionally, vasopressinergic neurons project from the hypothalamus to the brainstem nuclei. Increased release of AVP into the circulation and elevated levels of its surrogate marker copeptin are found in pulmonary diseases, arterial hypertension, heart failure, obstructive sleep apnoea, severe infections, COVID-19 due to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and brain injuries. All these conditions are usually accompanied by respiratory disturbances. The main stimuli that trigger AVP release include hyperosmolality, hypovolemia, hypotension, hypoxia, hypoglycemia, strenuous exercise, and angiotensin II (Ang II) and the same stimuli are known to affect pulmonary ventilation. In this light, we hypothesize that increased AVP release and changes in ventilation are not coincidental, but that the neurohormone contributes to the regulation of the respiratory system by fine-tuning of breathing in order to restore homeostasis. We discuss evidence in support of this presumption. Specifically, vasopressinergic neurons innervate the brainstem nuclei involved in the control of respiration. Moreover, vasopressin V1a receptors (V1aRs) are expressed on neurons in the respiratory centers of the brainstem, in the circumventricular organs (CVOs) that lack a blood-brain barrier, and on the chemosensitive type I cells in the carotid bodies. Finally, peripheral and central administrations of AVP or antagonists of V1aRs increase/decrease phrenic nerve activity and pulmonary ventilation in a site-specific manner. Altogether, the findings discussed in this review strongly argue for the hypothesis that vasopressin affects ventilation both as a blood-borne neurohormone and as a neurotransmitter within the central nervous system.

Transthoracic echocardiography: from guidelines for humans to cardiac ultrasound of the heart in rats.

Ultrasound examination of the heart is a cornerstone of clinical evaluation of patients with established or suspected cardiovascular conditions. Advancements in ultrasound imaging technology have brought transthoracic echocardiography to preclinical murine models of cardiovascular diseases. The translational potential of cardiac ultrasound is critically important in rat models of myocardial infarction and ischemia-reperfusion injury, congestive heart failure, arterial hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, pulmonary hypertension, right heart failure, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies, developmental disorders, and metabolic syndrome. Modern echocardiographic machines capable of high-frame-rate image acquisition and fitted with high-frequency transducers allow for cardiac ultrasound in rats that yields most of the echocardiographic measurements and indices recommended by international guidelines for cardiac ultrasound in human patients. Among them are dimensions of cardiac chambers and walls, indices of systolic and diastolic cardiac function, and valvular function. In addition, measurements of cardiac dimensions and ejection fraction can be significantly improved by intravenous administration of ultrasound enhancing agents (UEAs). In this article we discuss echocardiography in rats, describe a technique for minimally invasive intravenous administration of UEAs via the saphenous vein and present a step-by-step approach to cardiac ultrasound in rats.

High monthly temperature as a possible risk factor of local vascular bleeding complications during percutaneous coronary interventions evaluated by ultrasonography - retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Bleeding complications are a very important issue in the era of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Effective antiplatelet therapy increases the rate of successful interventions but the risk of bleeding complications, among them local vascular complications, may be higher. Other factors may also be important in the development of local bleeding complications. AIM: To examine the relationship between air temperature and local haemorrhagic complications. METHODS: The retrospective analysis of ultrasonographic examinations performed during the last 5 years (2003-2007) in 10 548 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation due to acute coronary syndromes or elective coronary angiography was performed. The relationship between mean monthly temperature, other factors and the rate of local bleeding complications was examined. RESULTS: Mean number of treated patients was 2708 +/- 377/year (2113-3089), of whom 1692 +/- 362/year had coronary angiography and 1345 +/- 281/year had PCI. Yearly rate of all femoral bleeding complications was 3.0 +/- 0.5%. There were more haematomas than pseudoaneurysms: 2.2 +/- 0.4 vs. 0.8 +/- 0.1%, p < 0.0001. Higher mean monthly air temperatures were positively correlated with the number of complications (r = 0.11, p < 0.05), both in males and females (r = 0.13, p < 0.05). A positive correlation between number of haematomas and air temperature values was detected in women. Yearly rate of all vascular complications, haematomas and pseudoaneurysms was higher in women than in men 4.3 +/- 0.9 vs. 2.3 +/- 0.3% (p < 0.0001), 3.0 +/- 0.7 vs. 1.7 +/- 0.3% (p < 0.0001) and 1.3 +/- 0.2 vs. 0.6 +/- 0.1% (p < 0.0005) respectively. In spite of more aggressive antiplatelet therapy, higher clopidogrel loading doses and abciximab use introduced during the analysed period, the rate of local vascular bleeding complications did not increase. CONCLUSIONS: High air temperature during the post-intervention period, besides female gender and advanced age, may be another risk factor for local bleeding complications. This risk remains low (3%), in spite of growing intensity of antiplatelet treatment.

The Sexual Motivation of Male Rats as a Tool in Animal Models of Human Health Disorders.

Normal or dysfunctional sexual behavior seems to be an important indicator of health or disease. Many health disorders in male patients affect sexual activity by directly causing erectile dysfunction, affecting sexual motivation, or both. Clinical evidence indicates that many diseases strongly disrupt sexual motivation and sexual performance in patients with depression, addiction, diabetes mellitus and other metabolic disturbances with obesity and diet-related factors, kidney and liver failure, circadian rhythm disorders, sleep disturbances including obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, developmental and hormonal disorders, brain damages, cardiovascular diseases, and peripheral neuropathies. Preclinical studies of these conditions often require appropriate experimental paradigms, including animal models. Male sexual behavior and motivation have been intensively investigated over the last 80 years in animal rat model. Sexual motivation can be examined using such parameters as: anticipatory behavior and 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations reflecting the emotional state of rats, initiation of copulation, efficiency of copulation, or techniques of classical (pavlovian) and instrumental conditioning. In this review article, we analyze the behavioral parameters that describe the sexual motivation and sexual performance of male rats in the context of animal experimental models of human health disorders. Based on analysis of the parameters describing the heterogeneous and complex structure of sexual behavior in laboratory rodents, we propose an approach that is useful for delineating distinct mechanisms affecting sexual motivation and sexual performance in selected disease states and the efficacy of therapy in preclinical investigations.

Microglia and brain angiotensin type 1 receptors are involved in desensitising baroreflex by intracerebroventricular hypertonic saline in male Sprague-Dawley rats.

High salt diet alters cardiovascular control by increasing concentration of sodium ions (Na+) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and is a risk factor for hypertension. Hypernatremic conditions activate microglia and upregulate renin-angiotensin system in the brain. Thus, we checked if chronic elevation of CSF Na+ affects neural control of circulatory system via microglia and brain angiotensin type 1 receptors (AT1Rs). Normotensive adult male Sprague-Dawley rats received two-week intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of either isoosmotic saline (0.9% NaCl); hyperosmotic saline (5% NaCl); 5% NaCl with minocycline - inhibitor of microglia; 5% NaCl with losartan - AT1R blocker. Fluid intake, urine output, and urinary Na+ excretion were measured before and during ICV infusions. At the end of ICV infusions, blood pressure and heart rate were recorded in awake rats at rest, in response to acute air jet stressor, during pharmacological evaluation of baroreflex, and after autonomic ganglia blockade. CSF and blood were collected for evaluation of Na+ concentration. Baroreflex was blunted in rats ICV infused with 5% NaCl. ICV treatment with losartan or minocycline prevented decrease in baroreflex sensitivity. Hemodynamic parameters at rest, in response to acute stressor and autonomic ganglia blockade were similar in all groups. Neither treatment affected water intake, urine output and urinary Na+ excretion. ICV infusion of 5% NaCl resulted in higher concentration of Na+ in CSF than in control group (0.9% NaCl) and in plasma. Our results indicate that chronic ICV infusion of hyperosmotic saline blunts baroreflex in normotensive rats and this desensitization is mediated by microglia and AT1Rs.

The influence of post-infarct heart failure and high fat diet on the expression of apelin APJ and vasopressin V1a and V1b receptors.

Vasopressin and apelin are reciprocally regulated hormones which are implicated in the pathophysiology of heart failure and the regulation of metabolism; however, little is known about their interactions under pathological conditions. In this study, we determined how post-infarct heart failure (HF) and a high fat diet (HFD) affect expression of the apelin APJ receptor (APJR) and the V1a (V1aR) and V1b (V1bR) vasopressin receptors in the hypothalamus, the heart, and the retroperitoneal adipose tissue. We performed experiments in male 4-week-old Sprague Dawley rats. The animals received either a normal fat diet (NFD) or a HFD for 8 weeks, then they underwent left coronary artery ligation to induce HF or sham surgery (SO), followed by 4 weeks of NFD or HFD. The HF rats showed higher plasma concentration of NT-proBNP and copeptin. The HF reduced the APJR mRNA expression in the hypothalamus. The APJR and V1aR protein levels in the hypothalamus were regulated both by HF and HFD, while the V1bR protein level in the hypothalamus was mainly influenced by HF. APJR mRNA expression in the heart was significantly higher in rats on HFD, and HFD affected the reduction of the APJR protein level in the right ventricle. The regulation of APJR, V1aR and V1bR expression in the heart and the retroperitoneal adipose tissue were affected by both HF and HFD. Our study demonstrates that HF and HFD cause significant changes in the expression of APJR, V1aR and V1bR, which may have an important influence on the cardiovascular system and metabolism.

Pre-hospital delay of treatment in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention: experience of cardiac centre located in the vicinity of the centre of Warsaw.

BACKGROUND: Early reperfusion therapy with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) improves left ventricular function and reduces mortality. AIM: To assess the time delay in treatment of patients with STEMI referred to a twenty-four-hour interventional centre located in the vicinity of the centre of Warsaw. METHODS: We analysed 350 consecutive STEMI patients admitted to our Department between October 2005 and September 2006. The majority of the patients - 244 (69.7%), were admitted via hospitals without an interventional department. Sixty-two (17.7%) patients were transported directly by ambulance from home, 34 (9.7%) from a community health centre and 10 patients (2.9%) came by themselves from home or work. A detailed interview concerning the time of symptom onset was conducted in 342 patients (97.7%). RESULTS: Sixty-two (18%) patients arrived at the interventional centre within the first 2 hours from symptom onset: 6 women (5.5% of all women in the study population) and 56 (24.1%) men (p <0.0001). Within the first 2 hours, 32 (13.1%) patients were admitted via another hospital and 20 (32.2%) directly by ambulance (p <0.001). During the first 7 days of hospitalisation the following patients died: 2 (3.2%) patients admitted within the first 2 hours via another hospital, 6 (3.4%) patients among 178 admitted between 2 and 6 hours after pain onset, 4 (8.3%) among 48 admitted between 6 and 12 hours and 8 (14.8%) among 54 patients with the pain duration over 12 hours (p <0.02). During the first 7 days of hospitalisation 8 (3.3%) patients admitted within the first 6 hours after pain onset died compared with 12 (11.8%) admitted later (p <0.003). CONCLUSIONS: In the interventional centre located near the centre of Warsaw symptom-onset-to-door time was 120 minutes only in 18% of patients with STEMI. Almost 70% of patients underwent interhospital transfer for primary PCI. Prolongation of the time from onset of symptoms to successful PCI worsened prognosis. When transporting patients with acute coronary syndrome, efforts should be made to avoid district hospitals without a catheterisation laboratory. Direct transportation by ambulance or helicopter with educated staff equipped with ECG teletransmission data, which may substantially shorten time to treatment, should be preferred.