ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of angiotensin (Ang)-(1-7) on oxidative stress and functional changes in isolated rat hearts with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>IR injury was induced in isolated rat hearts with the Langendorff' apparatus. The left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) of the rat heart was measured using a pressure transducer. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the myocardium were detected using commercial kits.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Myocardial ischemia (15 min) and reperfusion (30 min) significantly increased myocardial levels of MDA, and reduced the SOD activity and LVSP (P<0.05). Pretreatment with Ang-(1-7) at 1.0 nmol/L 30 min before ischemia obviously inhibited IR-induced MDA increment and lowering of SOD activity and LVSP. Pretreatment of the rats with intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg indomethacin 1 h before isolation of the heart markedly antagonized the effect of Ang-(1-7) on MDA production, SOD activity and LVSP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Angiotensin-(1-7) can inhibit IR injury-induced oxidative stress and decrease in cardiac contractile function in isolated rat hearts. The mechanism underlying the effect of Ang-(1-7) may be associated with increased secretion of prostaglandin.</p>