Myocardial Release of Nitric Oxide During Ischaemia and Reperfusion: Effects of l -Arginine and Hypercholesterolaemia

• Published in: Heart, lung & circulation lung & circulation, 2007-08, Vol.16 (4), p.274-281
• Main Authors: Prasan, Ananth M., MBBS, PhD, McCarron, Hugh C.K., BSc, PhD, Zhang, Yi, MBBS, PhD, Jeremy, Richmond W., MBBS, PhD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Arginine - pharmacology; Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular; Coronary Circulation - drug effects; Disease Models, Animal; Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology; Hypercholesterolemia - metabolism; Ischaemia; Myocardial Ischemia - metabolism; Myocardial Ischemia - physiopathology; Myocardial Reperfusion; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury - metabolism; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury - physiopathology; Myocardium - metabolism; Myocardium - pathology; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester - pharmacology; Nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Nitric oxide synthase; Rabbits; Research Design; Time Factors; Ventricular Pressure - drug effects
• ISSN: 1443-9506; 1444-2892
• DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2007.02.092

Aims Nitric oxide (NO) may modulate myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, but effects of hypercholesterolaemia on myocardial NO release during I/R are unknown. Methods A NO-specific carbon fibre electrode continuously measured coronary sinus [NO] during 60 min low-flow ischaemia (1 ml/min) and 60 min free reperfusion (I/R) in isolated rabbit hearts. Experimental groups ( n = 7 per group) were control, l -arginine supplement (200 μM), N -nitro- l -arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) treatment (8 μM) and hypercholesterolaemic. Results During early I, NO release decreased markedly in control (−1356 ± 286 pmol/min/g) and l -arginine (−1972 ± 172) groups, but less in L-NAME (−441 ± 89) and hypercholesterolaemic (−602 ± 164) groups (both p < 0.01 vs. controls). No increase in NO release during I was seen in any group. After R, NO release increased above baseline in control (+2333 ± 591 pmol/min/g) and l -arginine (+1048 ± 278) groups and hypercholesterolaemic (+1100 ± 478) ( p < 0.05 vs. pre-ischaemia each group). There was little increase in NO release in the L-NAME group (+436 ± 247 pmol/min/g, p < 0.05 vs. controls). In each group, myocardial NO release declined towards pre-ischaemic levels during 60 min R. Hearts treated with l -arginine had similar NO release but better functional recovery than controls ( p < 0.01). Treatment with L-NAME was also associated with better functional recovery than in controls or hypercholesterolaemic hearts. Conclusion Myocardial NO release declines rapidly during ischaemia, but increases above baseline during early reperfusion. Improved function after l -arginine treatment appears to be independent of effects upon NO release. Hypercholesterolaemia is associated with reduced myocardial NO release, under both baseline conditions and during ischaemia and reperfusion.