Morphology and function of dog arterial grafts preserved in UW-solution

Objectives:To assess the function of arterial grafts after prolonged preservation in the University of Wisconsin solution (UW), in vitro and in vivo.Methods:Carotid arteries were harvested from dogs and stored for 1–21 days at 4°C in UW (n = 10) or in PBS (0.9% NaCl, pH 7.4), (PBS) (n = 10). Slices were examined by lightmicroscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For viability testing, specimens were connected to an isometric force transducer (2 × n = 9). Contractile and relaxation responses were examined by adding phenylephrine (200μM) and metacholine (200μM), respectively. For in vivo studies (n = 41), 2.5cm carotid artery segments were implanted orthotopically, as autografts and allografts, after 14 days of storage in UW or in PBS. Autologous veins were used as controls. After 28 days or 56 days, arteriography was performed and the grafts were excised for LM and SEM.Results:The arterial endothelial layer remained intact after up to 14 days of storage in UW. In PBS, the endothelium was lost after 3 days. The functional response after 14 days storage in UW was approximately 50% vs. 0% after 14 days in PBS. In the autografts, total patencies (28 days + 56 days) were 100% (8/8) and 63% (5/8) for UW and PBS stored grafts, respectively. In the allografts, the UW and PBS preserved grafts showed total patencies of 86% (12/14) and 83% (5/6), respectively. Microscopically, the allografts showed fibrotic degeneration.Conclusions:Arteries are well preserved in UW up to 14 days of storage. Arterial autografts preserved in UW showed good patency and better integrity of the vessel wall after implantation, than grafts stored in PBS or allografts (without immunosuppressive therapy)

New anti-ischaemic drugs: cytoprotective action with no primary haemodynamic effects

Currently therapy for ischaemic heart disease is based on drugs such as β-adrenoceptor antagonists, Ca2+ antagonists and nitrates, which have pronounced haemodynamic effects. However, these drugs can have adverse reactions including systemic haemodynamic effects, leading to low blood pressure and peripheral oedema in some patients. Recent observations that certain types of Ca2+ antagonist prevent the Ca2+ overload that occurs after ischaemia have led to the design of new anti-ischaemic drugs that are cytoprotective, but have no (or few) haemodynamic effects. In this article, Pieter van Zwieten and colleagues assess the therapeutic potential of these drugs

Sympatho-inhibitory actions of irbesartan in pithed spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats

Angiotensin If (Ang 11) can enhance sympathetic neurotransmission by acting on (AT,) receptors that are located on sympathetic nerve terminals. We investigated presynaptic blockade by the selective AT(1)-receptor antagonist irbesartan in pithed spontaneously hypertensive rats and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). We compared the presynaptic inhibitory dose with that required for the blockade of AT(1)-receptors on vascular smooth muscle in both strains. To investigate blockade of presynaptic AT(1)-receptors, we studied the effect of irbesartan on the sequelae of electric stimulation of the thoraco-lumbar sympathetic outflow (0.25-8 Hz). To study the interaction between postsynaptic AT(1)-blockers and alpha-adrenoceptors, the effects of irbesartan on pressor responses to exogenous noradrenaline (NA) were established. Additionally, we studied the effect of irbesartan on dose-response curves for the vasocontriction induced by exogenous Ang II. Pressor responses to electrical stimulation of thoracolumbar sympathetic neurones, to exogenous Ang 11, as well as to (NA) were enhanced in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) compared with WKY. The stimulation-induced rise in DBP could be dose-dependently reduced by irbesartan (0.3-10 mg/kg) in both SHR and WKY. the pIC50 values (doses which suppress the rise in DBP by 50% compared with control) were 5.60 +/- 0.09 and 5.72 +/- 0.08 for SHR and WKY, respectively (P > 0.05). In SHR, no effect of irbesartan (3 mg/kg) on pressor responses to exogenous NA was observed. In contrast, in WKY, irbesartan (3 mg/kg) caused a rightward shift of the dose-response curve to exogenous NA. Irbesartan (0.3-3 mg/kg) caused a depression of E-max values and a rightward shift of the dose-response curves to exogenous Ang 11 in a similar fashion in both SHR and WKY. From these results we conclude thatboth in SHR and in WKY, Ang 11 exerts a facilitatory effect on sympathetic neurotransmission, which is mediated by prejunctional AT(1)-receptors in both strains. Irbesartan displays comparable sympatho-inhibitory potency in the normotensive and hypertensive pithed rat preparations. A facilitatory effect via postsynaptically located AT(1)-receptors on alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated responses exists in WKY, but not in SHR. In both strains the required dose to inhibit presynaptic effects is somewhat higher than the dose required to inhibit postsynaptic effects. No differences, therefore, seem to exist between the two strains regarding the affinity of irbesartan for pre- and postjunctional AT(1)-receptors, respectivel

Effects of hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide on cardiac autonomic receptors and vascular endothelial function

1. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known to be involved in the progression of various cardiovascular diseases. One source of ROS is activated neutrophils, which can release superoxide anion radicals and hydrogen peroxide by membrane-bound NAD(P)H oxidases. These ROS not only destroy bacteria, but may also affect mammalian tissue. In addition, hydrogen peroxide serves as a substrate for myeloperoxidase, an enzyme that is released by activated neutrophils during inflammatory processes, as seen, for instance, in reperfusion injury and atherosclerosis. Myeloperoxidase catalyses the oxidation of chloride by hydrogen peroxide, yielding hypochlorite, an extremely potent oxidant. 2. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of hypochlorite on a variety of receptor-dependent processes in rat isolated left atria and rat thoracic aorta and to compare these results with the phenomena observed after incubation with hydrogen peroxide. 3. In the presence of hypochlorite (300 mumol/L), the positive inotropic response of alpha(1) -adrenoceptor stimulation by methoxamine (300 mumol/L) was converted into a negative inotropic response. In contrast, the positive inotropic effects of the beta(1) /beta(2) -adrenoceptor agonist isoprenaline (3 mumol/L) and endothelin (ET)-1 (100 nmol/L) remained largely unaffected. 4. The inversion of alpha(1) -adrenoceptor-mediated inotropy was not obtained in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (500 mumol/L). Hydrogen peroxide did not affect the positive inotropic response of isoprenaline, but it completely abolished the inotropic effect of ET-1. 5. The effect of cardiac M-2 -receptor stimulation was studied in the presence of hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide. The negative inotropic response to acetylcholine (ACh) was significantly enhanced after hypochlorite incubation compared with control. 6. In the rat thoracic aorta, endothelial function, evaluated by means of ACh-induced vasodilation, was completely abolished in the presence of hypochlorite (100 mumol/L), but remained unaffected by treatment with the same concentration of hydrogen peroxide. 7. From these data, we conclude that hypochlorite exerts more toxic properties than its precursor hydrogen peroxide, leading to substantial physiological alterations in cardiac and vascular tissu

The influence of endogenously generated reactive oxygen species on the inotropic and chronotropic effects of adrenoceptor and ET-receptor stimulation

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a role in cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure and hypertension. Furthermore, increasing evidence has accumulated suggesting that ROS can also be formed subsequent to the stimulation of various receptors, thus functioning as second messengers. The objective of the present study was to elucidate the role of intracellular-generated ROS in the inotropic and chronotropic effects of the alpha(1)- and beta-adrenoceptor and the ET-receptor stimulation in isolated rat atria. In addition, we investigated whether the MAPK(erk) pathway is involved in the ROS-provoked rise of contractile force. For this purpose hydrogen peroxide was applied, which is known to serve several endogenous functions as a second messenger. Moreover, hydrogen peroxide readily crosses cell membranes, which thus allows to mimic the intracellular formation. Preincubation of atria with EUK 8 (400 muM), a cell permeable superoxide dismutase- and catalase-mimetic, reduced the positive inotropic effect upon alpha(1)-adrenoceptor and ET-receptor stimulation. The responsiveness to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation remained unaffected by this pretreatment. The chronotropic effects were not altered by preincubation with EUK 8. In contrast to the MAPK(p38) inhibitor SB203580 (2 and 10 muM), the two MKKmek inhibitors PD98059 (30 and 100 muM) and U0126 (10 muM) significantly attenuated the positive inotropic response to hydrogen peroxide in isolated rat left atria. In addition, inhibition of the Na+/H+ exchange (NHE) by cariporide (1 muM) counteracted ROS-provoked increase of contractile force. From the present study we conclude that the inotropic responses to alpha(1)-adrenoceptor and ET-receptor stimulation are, at least partially, caused by intracellular-formed ROS, that subsequently may activate the MAPK(erk) pathway and the NH