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Nitric oxide protects rat hepatocytes against reperfusion injury mediated by the mitochondrial permeability transition.

We investigated the effects of nitric oxide (NO) on hepatocellular killing after simulated ischemia/reperfusion and characterized signaling factors triggering cytoprotection by NO. Cultured rat hepatocytes were incubated in anoxic Krebs-Ringer-HEPES buffer at pH 6.2 for 4 hours and reoxygenated at pH 7.4 for 2 hours. During reoxygenation, some hepatocytes were exposed to combinations of NO donors (S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine [SNAP] and others), a cGMP analogue (8-bromoguanosine-3,5-cGMP [8-Br-cGMP]), and a cGMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor (KT5823). Cell viability was determined by way of propidium iodide fluorometry. Inner membrane permeabilization and mitochondrial depolarization were monitored by confocal microscopy. SNAP, but not oxidized SNAP, increased cGMP during reperfusion and decreased cell killing. Other NO donors and 8-Br-cGMP also prevented cell killing. Both guanylyl cyclase and cGMP-dependent kinase inhibition blocked the cytoprotection of NO. However, 5-hydroxydecanoate and diazoxide- mitochondrial K(ATP) channel modulators-did not affect NO-dependent cytoprotection or reperfusion injury. During reoxygenation, confocal microscopy showed mitochondrial repolarization, followed by depolarization, inner membrane permeabilization, and cell death. In the presence of either SNAP or 8-Br-cGMP, mitochondrial repolarization was sustained after reperfusion preventing inner membrane permeabilization and cell death. In isolated rat liver mitochondria, a cGMP analogue in the presence of a cytosolic extract and adenosine triphosphate blocked the Ca(2+)-induced mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT), an effect that was reversed by KT5823. In conclusion, NO prevents MPT-dependent necrotic killing of ischemic hepatocytes after reperfusion through a guanylyl cyclase and cGMP-dependent kinase signaling pathway, events that may represent the target of NO cytoprotection in preconditioning.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Chemoprotective effect of plant phenolics against anthracycline-induced toxicity on rat cardiomyocytes. Part III. Apigenin, baicalelin, kaempherol, luteolin and quercetin.

Flavonoids are found universally in plants and act as free radical scavenging and chelating agents with antiinflammatory, antiischemic, vasodilating and chemoprotective properties. In this study, the antilipoperoxidative and cytoprotective effects of apigenin, baicalein, kaempferol, luteolin and quercetin against doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress were investigated in isolated rat heart cardiac myocytes, mitochondria and microsomes. After preincubation of cardiomyocytes with the test compounds for 1 h the cardiomyocytes were treated with the toxic agent, doxorubicin (100 micro M for 8 h). Cardiomyocyte protection was assessed by extracellular LDH and cellular ADP and ATP production. Cytoprotection was concentration dependent for baicalein > luteolin congruent with apigenin > quercetin > kaempferol. All test compounds had signi fi cantly better protective effects than dexrazoxan, an agent currently used for adjuvant therapy during anthracycline antibiotic therapy. In microsomes/mitochondria the IC(50) values of lipid peroxidation inhibition for quercetin, baicalein, kaempferol, luteolin, and apigenin were 3.1 +/- 0.2/8.2 +/- 0.6, 3.3 +/- 0.3/9.6 +/- 0.5, 3.9 +/- 0.3/10.1 +/- 0.8, 22.9 +/- 1.7/18.2 +/- 0.7, and 338.8 +/- 23.1/73.1 +/- 6.4 mM, respectively. The antilipoperoxidative activity of apigenin differed from its cytoprotective effects, but correlated with the free radical scavenging of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical and half peak oxidation potential (E(p/2)). Apigenin was the least effective of the flavonoids studied in all models except the cardiomyocyte model where its cardiomyocyte cytoprotective effect was comparable to other compounds.

Animals↗

The nitric oxide donor SIN-1 protects endothelial cells from tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mediated cytotoxicity: possible role for cyclic GMP and heme oxygenase.

In cultured endothelial cells, incubation with TNF-alpha (50 ng/ml) for 72 h markedly reduced viability of endothelial cells. A 6-h pre-incubation with the nitric oxide (NO) donor linsidomine (SIN-1, 10-150 microM) protected endothelial cells in a concentration-dependent manner and increased viability by up to 59% of control. The unmetabolized parent compound molsidomine and the NO-free metabolite of SIN-1 3-morpholinoiminoacetonitrile (SIN-1C) were without cytoprotective effect. Cytoprotection by SIN-1 was completely abolished by the NO scavenger 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5, -tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (PTIO, 30 microM). A cytoprotective effect comparable to SIN-1 was observed when preincubating the cells with dibutyryl cyclic GMP (10-100 microM). Moreover, no protection by SIN-1 occurred in the presence of cycloheximide (1 microM) or 1H--1,2,4-oxadiazole-4, 3-a-quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, 0.1 microM), a selective inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase. Tin protoporphyrin-IX (SnPP, 25 microM), an inhibitor of heme oxygenase, was found to attenuate SIN-1-induced cytoprotection. Our results demonstrate that SIN-1 produces a long-term endothelial protection against cellular injury by TNF-alpha, presumably via a cyclic GMP-dependent pathway leading to up-regulation of protective proteins such as heme oxygenase.

Acetonitriles↗

Strychnine and glycine protect renal proximal tubules from various nephrotoxicants and act in the late phase of necrotic cell injury.

We have previously shown that strychnine mimics the cytoprotective properties of glycine in renal proximal tubule (RPT) suspensions exposed to antimycin A (AA). The aims of this study were to determine whether the cytoprotective properties of strychnine applied to various types of nephrotoxicants and to examine the temporal aspects of the cytoprotection of glycine and strychnine. Tubular release of LDH activity was used as a marker of cell death. Glycine (2 mM) or strychnine (1 mM) added 5 min prior to the toxicant decreased LDH release in rabbit RPT suspensions exposed to 25 microM tetrafluoroethyl-L-cysteine (TFEC), 10 microM HgCl2, 0.5 mM t-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP), or 0.2 mM bromohydroquinone (BHQ) for 4 hr, or 2 mM sodium cyanide (NaCN) for 2 hr. The relative rank order of effectiveness of glycine and strychnine was NaCN = TFEC > BHQ > DCVC >> TBHP > HgCl2. The temporal aspects of strychnine and glycine protection were examined by exposing RPT to either AA or TFEC for 1 or 3 hr, respectively, and then adding either 1 mM glycine or 1 mM strychnine. Glycine and strychnine decreased LDH release in AA-treated RPT at 1.25 and 2 hr and TFEC-treated RPT at 4 hr. In addition, when RPT exposed to AA or TFEC and treated with strychnine or glycine were washed at either 1 or 4 hr, protection was eliminated at later time points. When glycine was added to RPT treated with either PCBC, TFEC, or DCVC 5 min prior to or 30, 60, 120, and 180 min following toxicant addition, LDH release was reduced at all time points. These results demonstrate that strychnine and glycine protect RPT from a variety of diverse nephrotoxicants, strychnine and glycine do not need to be present at the time of toxic insult, strychnine and glycine cytoprotection is reversible, and strychnine and glycine act in the late phase of necrotic cell injury.

Animals↗

Possible role of sulfhydryls in mucosal protection induced by aluminum hydroxide.

The involvement of sulfhydryl-containing compounds was investigated in the cytoprotective effect of certain antacids against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage in the rat. Not only the protective effect of a sulfhydryl containing compound, N-acetylcysteine, was abolished after pretreatment with N-ethylmaleimide, but also the adaptive cytoprotection induced by 20% ethanol. Pretreatment of the animals with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin or with the thiol reagent N-ethylmaleimide significantly diminished the cytoprotection evoked by aluminum hydroxide. However, the protective effect of aluminium hydroxide could only be totally abolished by pretreatment with the combination of indomethacin and N-ethylmaleimide. The present results suggest the additional role of sulfhydryl-containing compounds localized in the gastric mucosa in the cytoprotection induced by a mild irritant or by aluminium hydroxide and aluminium hydroxide-containing antacids as well.

Acetylcysteine↗

Acid-induced esophagitis in cats is prevented by sucralfate but not synthetic prostaglandin E.

The cytoprotective effects of liquid sucralfate and a synthetic analog of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on acid-induced esophagitis in cats were studied. Esophagitis was induced in adult cats using a constant infusion of 0.1 N HCl at 1 ml/min for 20 min. Animals were infused for either one or three days. Mucosal lesions were evaluated by blinded investigators using both fiberoptic endoscopy and light microscopy. Histologic changes included basal cell hyperplasia, intraepithelial leukocytosis, and subepithelial leukocytosis. Liquid sucralfate given prior to acid infusion consistently prevented acid-induced lesions in both one- and three-day infusions, demonstrated by both endoscopy and quantitative histologic scoring. Indomethacin (200 micrograms/kg) given prior to sucralfate and acid did not affect sucralfate cytoprotection. Synthetic PGE1, given in doses of 5 micrograms/kg and 100 micrograms/kg, afforded no esophageal cytoprotection. These studies indicate that sucralfate is cytoprotective against acid-induced esophageal injury in cats, an effect that does not appear to be mediated by prostaglandin. In addition, synthetic PGE1 does not confer protection in this animal model.

Animals↗

Thyroxine prevents reoxygenation injury in isolated proximal tubule cells.

Ischemia is characterized by cessation of blood flow and oxygen delivery to tissues that results in disruption of cellular structure and organelles. However, restoration of blood flow following ischemia causes reperfusion injury, characterized by further damage in the tissues mediated by reactive oxygen species. In the kidney, reactive oxygen molecules have been implicated in ischemic, toxic and immunological glomerular damage. Thyroxine has been shown to be cytoprotective in toxic and ischemic injury. Thyroxine's cytoprotective effect is postulated to be secondary to stimulation of intracellular ATP synthesis. However, the underlying mechanism of that beneficial effect remains to be investigated. In this study we investigated the effect of thyroxine (T4) on free oxygen radical production in an in vitro model of reperfusion injury. Free oxygen radical (FOR) levels were determined by a chemiluminescence method after freshly isolated rabbit proximal tubule cells were subjected to 15 min of anoxia followed by 45 min of reoxygenation. Reoxygenation injury resulted in a significant increase in FOR levels (P<0.0001). FOR levels were significantly lower in the group treated with thyroxine (P=0.01) and cells treated with thyroxine displayed better preservation of cellular structure. We conclude that thyroxine's cytoprotective effect might be via decreased synthesis of FOR, and thyroxine treatment may confer cytoprotection in renal conditions characterized by FOR-mediated injury.

Animals↗

Antioxidant and iron-chelating activities of the flavonoids catechin, quercetin and diosmetin on iron-loaded rat hepatocyte cultures.

The cytoprotective effect of three flavonoids, catechin, quercetin and diosmetin, was investigated on iron-loaded hepatocyte cultures, considering two parameters: the prevention of iron-increased lipid peroxidation and the inhibition of intracellular enzyme release. These two criteria of cytoprotection allowed the calculation of mean inhibitory concentrations (IC50) which revealed that the effectiveness of these flavonoids could be classified as follows: catechin > quercetin > diosmetin. These IC50 values have been related to structural characteristics of the flavonoids tested. Moreover, the investigation of the capacity of these flavonoids to remove iron from iron-loaded hepatocytes revealed a good relationship between this iron-chelating ability and the cytoprotective effect. The cytoprotective activity of catechin, quercetin and diosmetin could thus be ascribed to their widely known antiradical property but also to their iron-chelating effectiveness. These findings increase further the prospects for the development and clinical application of these potent antioxidants.

Animals↗

Effects of omega-conotoxin MVIIC on veratridine-induced cytotoxicity and cytosolic Ca(2+) oscillations.

External Ca(2+) entry through various Ca(2+)-channel subtypes is responsible for the large oscillations of the cytosolic Ca(2+) concentrations, [Ca(2+)](i), and cell death induced by veratridine in primary cultures of bovine chromaffin cells. Blockade by omega-conotoxin GVIA (GVIA) of N-type Ca(2+) channels, by omega-agatoxin IVA (IVA) of P-type Ca(2+) channels, or by furnidipine of L-type Ca(2+) channels did not afford cytoprotection. However, (omega-conotoxin MVIIC (MVIIC), a wide-spectrum blocker of N-, P- and Q-type Ca(2+) channels greatly protected the cells against the cytotoxic effects of veratridine. Furnidipine further enhanced the cytoprotecting effects of MVIIC. MVIIC but not furuidipine, markedly reduced the oscillations of [Ca(2+)](i) induced by veratridine in single fura-2-loaded chromaffin cells. The results suggest that Ca(2+) entry through any of the different Ca(2+) channel subtypes present in bovine chromaffin cells might be cytotoxic. They also support two ideas: (i) that wide-spectrum neuronal Ca(2+) channel blockers (i.e. MVIIC) might be better cytoprotecting agents than more specific neuronal Ca(2+) channel blockers (i.e., GVIA, IVA, furnidipine); and (ii) that combined Ca(2+) channel blockers may provide greater cytoprotection than single compounds.

Adrenal Glands↗

The role of glucose in preventing stress gastric mucosal injury.

UNLABELLED: Reports from other investigators have shown the ability of pretreatment with either parenteral (glucose) or enteral (bolus Vivonex HN) nutrition to protect against stress ulcer formation, suggesting that the mechanism of protection may be substrate availability. However, these prior animal studies have used inordinately high amounts of Vivonex HN (equal to 1050 ml/hr in a human). This study compared cytoprotection afforded by pretreatment with a continuous infusion of Vivonex HN at a more clinically applicable level to that of both parenteral (ip) and enteral (po) glucose to test the above hypothesis. One hundred eight rats were infused (0.1 ml/min) for 30 min with: po water, ip water, po 25% glucose, ip 25% glucose, or po Vivonex HN. This was followed by 2 hr of cold-restraint stress. Serum glucose was determined. Poststress, animals were sacrificed, stomachs inspected, and mean ulcer index was calculated. Only oral 25% glucose offered significant gastric cytoprotection. Serum glucose was highest in both glucose groups. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Vivonex HN pretreatment failed to cytoprotect in this model, (2) gastric cytoprotection by oral but not by parenteral glucose in the presence of similar serum glucose levels suggests that luminal factors, in addition to substrate availability, are necessary for this protection to occur.

Animals↗

Failure of prostacyclin, beta-carotene, atropine and cimetidine to produce gastric cyto- and general mucosal protection in surgically vagotomized rats.

Different chemicals (such as ethanol, HCl, drugs) produce gastric mucosal injury. A special type of gastric mucosal defense, which differed from the inhibition of gastric acid secretion, was discovered in response to small doses of prostaglandins. This phenomenon was termed "gastric cytoprotection". Later, the existence of gastric cytoprotection was proved using different compounds, such as vitamin A and other carotenoids, prostacyclin, small doses of anticholinergic and H2-blocking agents. These compounds produce cyto-protection by different mechanisms. In this study we tested the role of vagus nerve on the development of these different types of gastric cytoprotection. These compounds prevent ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats with intact vagus nerve, but their cyto- and mucosal protective effects disappear in surgically vagotomized rats. These results indicate that the intact vagus nerve is basically necessary for the overproduction of HCl and pepsin secretion, and for the development of gastric cytoprotection, produced by different compounds (e.g. prostacyclin, beta-carotene, small doses of atropine and cimetidine) acting without the presence of inhibition of gastric acid secretion.

Animals↗

Prevention by rutin of gastric lesions induced by ethanol in rats: role of endogenous prostaglandins.

1. This study was designed to demonstrate the cytoprotective effect of Rutin against ethanol-induced gastric injury in rats and to determine whether this cytoprotective effect is mediated by endogenous prostaglandins. 100 and 200 mg/kg of Rutin given orally 1 hr before administration of 1 ml of 100% ethanol significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the area of macroscopic lesions induced by ethanol (84.16 +/- 23.01 and 54.75 +/- 16.05 respectively) when compared to distilled water (305.60 +/- 67.20). However, it did not induce changes in the amount and total proteins and hexosamines content of gastric mucus. 2. Pretreatment with indomethacin, 10 mg/kg s.c. 30 min before Rutin administration, slightly but not significantly reduced the cytoprotective effect. 3. The levels of PGE2 present in the mucous material were not significantly modified with administration of Rutin (100 mg/kg). 4. These results show that Rutin has a cytoprotective effect against ethanol injury in the rat, but this property does not appear to be mediated by endogenous prostaglandins.

Animals↗

alpha-Tocopherol and trolox block the early intracellular events (TBARS and calcium rises) elicited by oxidized low density lipoproteins in cultured endothelial cells.

Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), treated by UV-C radiations under conditions permitting mildly oxidized LDL (6 +/- 2 nmol TBARS/mg apoB, without major structural or functional alteration of apoB), have been used for studying their cytotoxicity to cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells and the cytoprotective effect of various analogs of alpha-tocopherol. Toxic doses of oxidized LDL evoked intracellular events, such as cellular thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and a sustained peak of [Ca2+]i (cytosolic calcium). The sustained [Ca2+]i peak seems to be directly involved in the genesis of cell injury leading to cell death in contrast to cellular TBARS, which seems to be either an earlier step of signal transduction or a side effect, as shown by inhibiting the [Ca2+]i rise by ethylene glycol-O,O'-bis(amino ethyl)-N1N1N'1N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) added just before the time of the [Ca2+]i peak. When alpha-tocopherol or trolox (a short-chain, water-soluble analog of alpha-tocopherol) were added to the culture medium simultaneously with oxidized LDL, they were able to increase the resistance of endothelial cells against the cytotoxic effect of oxidized LDL, whereas alpha-tocopheryl acetate and alpha-tocopheryl succinate were almost completely ineffective because of the liberation of only very low levels of alpha-tocopherol. Trolox exhibited a more potent cytoprotective effect than alpha-tocopherol (IC50: 1 +/- 0.2 and 8 +/- 2 mumol/l for trolox and alpha-tocopherol, respectively). As shown by preincubating cells with effective concentrations of alpha-tocopherol or trolox, the cytoprotective effect was completely independent of any inhibition of LDL oxidation and was remanent for 2 d with alpha-tocopherol or for 3-4 d with trolox. Cytoprotective concentrations of trolox and alpha-tocopherol did not inhibit LDL uptake but acted at the cellular level by blocking the formation of cellular TBARS and the sustained [Ca2+]i peak as well. The potential relevance of these data in relation to the prevention of atherosclerosis is discussed.

Animals↗

Pharmacological protection against the cytotoxicity induced by 6-hydroxydopamine and H2O2 in chromaffin cells.

We present in this report the characteristics of the damage induced by 6-hydroxydopamine and H2O2 on bovine chromaffin cells in primary culture. Cytotoxicity was quantified using catecholamine cell contents, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, trypan blue exclusion and morphological appearance. An excellent correlation between these four parameters was found. The cytotoxic effects of 6-hydroxydopamine were Ca(2+)-independent. In spite of this, the Ca2+ channel antagonists R56865 (N-[1-(4-(fluorophenoxy)butyl)]-4-piperidinyl-N-methyl-2-benzo-thiazo lamine) lidoflazine exhibited marked cytoprotective effects against both 6-hydroxydopamine and H2O2. The selective dopamine uptake blocker, bupropion, increased the viability of 6-hydroxydopamine and H2O2-treated cells from 20% to around 80%. Catalase drastically protected against the cytotoxic effects of 6-hydroxydopamine and H2O2. In contrast, desferrioxamine gave better protection against H2O2 cytotoxicity; glutathione and N-acetylcysteine only afforded substantial protection against 6-hydroxydopamine. Three main conclusions emerge from this study. (1st) 6-Hydroxydopamine causes chromaffin cell damage via a mechanism probably related to the production of free radicals, but unrelated to Ca2+ ions. Cytoprotection afforded by R56865 and lidoflazine must be unrelated to their Ca2+ antagonist properties. This suggests a novel component in the cytoprotective mechanism of action of these drugs. (2nd) The strong cytoprotective effects of bupropion seem to be unrelated to its ability to block the plasmalemmal dopamine carrier. (3rd) Bovine adrenal chromaffin cells in primary cultures are a suitable model for adult neurons to study the basic mechanism of cell damage, and to screen new drugs with putative neuroprotective properties.

Acetylcysteine↗

Conversion from cyclosporine to mycophenolate mofetil improves expression of A20 in the rat kidney allografts undergoing chronic rejection.

AIMS: Cytoprotective genes have shown to display potent anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic functions in endothelial and smooth muscle cells. We investigated whether cytoprotective genes, especially A20, were involved in mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)'s ability to ameliorate transplant arteriosclerosis in an experimental chronic rejection model. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rat renal grafts were orthotopically transplanted into Wistar rats following the procedure of Kamada with our modification. The recipients were divided into three oral treatment groups: (1) vehicle group (cyclosporine [CsA] 10 mg/kg.d x 10 d followed by vehicle), (2) CsA group (CsA 10 mg/kg.d x 10 d followed by CsA 6 mg/kg.d), (3) MMF group (converted from CsA 10 mg/kg.d x 10 d to MMF 20 mg/kg.d on day 11). At the same time points after transplantation, the rats were sacrificed to harvest the renal allografts. The expression of four cytoprotective genes, A20, heme oxygenase (HO)-1, Bcl-2, and Bcl-XL, was analyzed by quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The four-cytoprotective genes were all detected in rat kidney allografts undergoing chronic allograft nephropathy. The expression of A20 in grafted kidneys was significantly higher in the MMF than in the CsA or the vehicle group (P < .01). There was no significant difference between the CsA and the MMF groups in the expression of HO-1, Bcl-2, and Bcl-XL. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that MMF improved the expression of A20 in rat kidney allografts undergoing chronic allograft nephropathy. The correlation between MMF and A20 provide an explanation for the mechanism by which MMF ameliorates transplant arteriosclerosis in an experimental animal model of chronic rejection.

Animals↗

HL-1 myocytes exhibit PKC and K(ATP) channel-dependent delta opioid preconditioning.

BACKGROUND: Opioid preconditioning protects the myocardium against ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury. By enhancing cardiomyocyte viability, opioids can enhance cardiac function and recovery from IR injury during acute cardiac care. The myocyte model HL-1 is an immortalized, mouse atrial cell line that expresses functional delta-opioid receptors. The HL-1 myocyte may be useful for IR injury research exploring opioid cardioprotection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In study I, microplates of HL-1 were subjected to 10 min pre-treatment with either basal media, delta-opioid agonist DADLE(10uM), or DADLE(10uM) + delta-antagonist naltrindole (10uM). Study II treatment groups included PKC inhibitor chelerythrine (2uM), K(ATP) channel closer glybenclamide (100uM), or mitochondrial K(ATP) channel opener diazoxide (100uM) administered in various combinations followed by DADLE (10uM) or control. Microplates were subjected to normal oxygen/substrate conditions or ischemic (<1% 0(2)) and substrate deficient (10 uM 2-Deoxyglucose versus 10 mM glucose) conditions, then reperfused with normal oxygen and glucose-containing media. Microplate supernatants were subjected to lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. RESULTS: Compared to untreated control, the LDH assay showed significant reduction in opioid-only pretreated groups at all time points. These effects were attenuated with delta-opioid antagonist co-administration. Co-administration of non-selective K(ATP) channel closer glybenclamide and DADLE abolished DADLE cytoprotection, while selective mitochondrial K(ATP) opener diazoxide mimicked DADLE cytoprotection Co-administration of chelerythrine and DADLE significantly reduced chelerythrine cytotoxicity. CONCLUSION: Delta-opioid preconditioning of HL-1 myocytes significantly decreased necrosis from in vitro simulated ischemia/reperfusion as measured by LDH release; this effect was reversed by delta-antagonist naltrindole. Cytoprotection was PKC and K(ATP) channel-dependent. HL-1 myocytes exhibit opioid-induced cytoprotection from IR injury, and present a novel model of pharmacologic preconditioning.

Alkaloids↗

Protective effect of central thyrotropin-releasing hormone on carbon tetrachloride-induced acute hepatocellular necrosis in rats.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) acts in the brain to stimulate hepatic proliferation and blood flow through vagal-muscarinic and prostaglandin-mediated pathways. Hepatic blood flow and prostaglandins are well recognized as cytoprotective factors for liver damage, and central TRH is known to play a role in gastric cytoprotection. The effect of central TRH on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced acute hepatocellular necrosis was investigated in rats. METHODS: Male fasted rats were injected with either TRH analog, RX 77368 (1-10 ng), or vehicle intracisternally, and CCl(4) (2.0 ml/kg) was injected subcutaneously 60 min later. Acute hepatocellular necrosis was assessed by serum hepatic enzymes and histological changes 24 h after CCl(4). RESULTS: Intracisternal TRH dose-dependently inhibited elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase level induced by CCl(4). Intracisternal TRH reduced CCl(4)-induced hepatic histological changes. The cytoprotective effect of central TRH on CCl(4)-induced acute hepatocellular necrosis was abolished by hepatic branch vagotomy, atropine, indomethacin and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, but not by 6-hydroxydopamine. Intravenous TRH did not influence CCl(4)-induced acute hepatocellular necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the cytoprotective effect of central TRH on acute hepatocellular necrosis is mediated through vagal-muscarinic, and prostaglandin- and nitric oxide-dependent pathways.

Acute Disease↗

Specific preinduction of 60-kDa heat shock protein (chaperonin homolog) by TRH does not protect colonic mucosa against acetic acid-induced lesion in rats.

In order to study the cytoprotective function of colonic heat shock proteins (HSPs) in vivo, the effect of specific preinduction of HSP60 by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) administration on the development of acetic acid-induced colonic mucosal lesion was investigated. Expression of 60-kDa, 72-kDa, and 90-kDa heat shock proteins (HSP60, HSP72, and HSP90, respectively) in rat colonic mucosa was investigated by western blot and immunohistochemical analyses before and after TRH administration. Following pretreatment with or without TRH administration, the rats received intrarectal infusion of 5% acetic acid. The colonic mucosal damage was macroscopically evaluated 24 hr after the intrarectal infusion of acetic acid. Expression of HSP60 was significantly increased by TRH administration in the colonic mucosa, whereas HSP72 and HSP90 did not increase. Immunohistochemical study also showed a significant increase in HSP60 in colonic mucosal cells, especially at the surface of the colonic mucosa after TRH administration. No histopathologic alteration was observed in the colonic mucosa after TRH administration. The colonic mucosal damage caused by intrarectal infusion of 5% acetic acid was not prevented by preinduction of HSP60. We demonstrated that specific preinduction of HSP60 by TRH administration did not show cytoprotective function in the colonic mucosa, although this protein plays a crucial role for cytoprotection in the pancreatic acinar cells. Our results indicate that the role of HSP60 may be different in each organ with respect to cytoprotection.

Acetic Acid↗