P424Short-term ACE Inhibition upregulates cardiac expression of SERCA2a and protects against ventricular arrhythmias in healthy rats

Introduction: Chronic angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEIs) treatment can suppress arrhythmogenesis. To examine whether the effect is more immediate and independent of suppression of pathological remodelling, we tested the antiarrhythmic effect of short-term ACE inhibition in healthy normotensive rats. Methods and results: Wistar rats were administered with enalaprilat (ENA, i.p., 5 mg/kg every 12 h) or vehicle (CON) for two weeks. Cellular shortening was measured in isolated, electrically paced cardiomyocytes. Standard 12-lead electrocardiography was performed and, hearts of anesthetized open-chest rats were subjected to 6-min ischemia followed by 10-minute reperfusion to examine susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmias. Expressions of calcium regulating proteins (SERCA2a, cardiac sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase; CSQ, calsequestrin; TRD, triadin; PLB, phospholamban; FKBP12.6, FK506-binding protein) were measured by Western blot and mRNA levels of L-type calcium channel (Cacna1c), ryanodine receptor (Ryr2) and potassium channels Kcnh2 and Kcnq1 were measured by qRT-PCR. ENA decreased systolic as well as diastolic blood pressure (by 20%, and by 31%, respectively, for both P<0.05) but enhanced shortening of cardiomyocytes at basal conditions (by 34%, P<0.05) and under beta-adrenergic stimulation (by 73%, P<0.05). Enalaprilat shortened QTc interval duration (CON: 78±1 ms vs. ENA: 72±2 ms; P<0.05) and significantly decreased the total duration of ventricular fibrillations (VF) and the number of VF episodes (P<0.05). Reduction in arrhythmogenesis was associated with a pronounced upregulation of SERCA2a and increased Cacna1c mRNA levels. Conclusion: Short-term ACEI treatment can provide protection against I/R injury-induced ventricular arrhythmias in healthy myocardium and this effect is associated with increased SERCA2a expression. CON ENA Calcium regulating proteins SERCA2a 100±20 304±13* CSQ 100±6 105±7 TRD 100±16 117±10 PLB 100±9 109±16 FKBP12 100±12 93±

Molecular evidence for the presence of a G7 genotype of Echinococcus granulosus in Slovakia

Variability in Echinococcus granulosus is very important epidemiologically since strain characteristics may influence local patterns of transmission of hydatid disease. To classify the genotype presented in pig protoscoleces of the Slovak territory, a DNA-based approach has been used. Nucleotide sequences for a 471 bp region of the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase 1 (ND1) gene revealed a substantial affinity of isolates examined to the G7 genotype. Only a 0.9-3.4% sequence variation was recorded for E. granulosus samples compared with the reference G7 variant. To distinguish between G7 and G9 genotypes not differing in ND1 sequences, isolates were additionally examined by PCR-RFLP analysis of the nuclear ITS1 region. The resulting two-banded pattern is characteristic for the G7 strain. The data presented thus provides the first explicit evidence of the G7 genotype in the Slovak region