The effect of a free radical scavenger and platelet-activating factor antagonist on FFA accumulation in post-ischemic canine brain.

The effects of the platelet-activating factor antagonist BN 50739 and a free radical scavenger dimethyl sulfoxide on the accumulation of free fatty acids in post-ischemic canine brain are reported. Following 14 min of complete normothermic ischemia and 60 min of reperfusion, the total brain FFAs were approximately 150% higher than in the control group (p < 0.05). Perfusion with the platelet-activating factor antagonist BN50739 in its diluent dimethyl sulfoxide during 60 min of post-ischemic reoxygenation resulted in a 61.8% (p < 0.01) reduction in the total brain free fatty acid accumulation. Palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and arachidonic acids decreased by 53.8%, 63.5%, 69.0%, 47.4%, and 57.2%, respectively. Although dimethyl sulfoxide alone caused stearic and arachidonic acids to return to the normal concentration range, BN 50739 had a significant influence on recovery of palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids and was previously shown to provide significant therapeutic protection against damage to brain mitochondria following an ischemic episode. Because free fatty acid accumulation is one of the early phenomena in cerebral ischemia, this study provides evidence to support the hypothesis that both platelet-activating factor and free radicals are involved in initiating cerebral ischemic injury.

Cromakalim and cicletanine against pacing-induced myocardial ischemia in conscious rabbits.

Myocardial ischemia assessed by intracavital ST-segment elevation, shortening of ventricular effective refractory period (VERP), and increase in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was provoked by ventricular overdrive pacing (VOP) in conscious rabbits. Cromakalim (10 micrograms/kg), an ATP-sensitive K+ channel opener, and cicletanine (30 mg/kg), a cGMP-phosphodiesterase inhibitor, reduced VOP-induced ST-segment elevation and LVEDP-increase. Under resting conditions, cromakalim lowered blood pressure, increased heart rate (HR), and shortened VERP, whereas cicletanine decreased HR, prolonged VERP without changing blood pressure. Co-administration of cromakalim and cicletanine additively reduced VOP-induced ST-segment elevation, shortening of VERP, and LVEDP-increase. Cicletanine did not change cromakalim-induced hypotension but abolished reflexogenic tachycardia. This suggests that VERP shortening is not a prerequisite for the anti-ischemic effect of cromakalim, and the combination of these drugs may afford a potent and safe anti-ischemic effect without affecting hypotension induced cromakalim.

Cicletanine attenuates overdrive pacing-induced global myocardial ischemia in rabbits: possible role of cardiac cyclic nucleotides.

BACKGROUND: This study examined whether cicletanine, an antihypertensive drug with cGMP phosphodiesterase inhibitory effect, could alleviate ventricular overdrive pacing-induced myocardial ischemia in chronically instrumented rabbits. METHODS: An electrode-catheter implanted into the right ventricle was used for pacing (500 bpm over 5 min) and for measuring intracavital ST-segment elevation and ventricular effective refractory period (VERP). PQ and QT intervals were measured in the chest-lead ECG, and dP/dtmax as well as left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were recorded through a left intraventricular catheter. In separate groups, mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) was monitored from the right carotid artery. Experiments were performed on conscious rabbits after a week of convalescence. In anesthetized, open-chest rabbits, samples were taken from the left ventricle before and after drug treatment and/or overdrive pacing for determination of cGMP and cAMP contents by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Intravenous cicletanine, 30 mg/kg body weight, did not change resting MABP, dP/dtmax, and LVEDP, but it did reduce heart rate and prolonged PQ and QT intervals and VERP. Overdrive pacing produced intracavital ST-segment elevation, increased LVEDP, and decreased dP/dtmax and MABP. Cicletanine administered 15 minutes before pacing significantly attenuated ST-segment elevation, increased LVEDP, and decreased dP/dtmax and MABP. In anesthetized animals, cicletanine itself slightly increased cardiac cGMP and cAMP contents. Overdrive pacing moderately increased cGMP and profoundly elevated cAMP, and in overpaced rabbits, cicletanine further increased cGMO and markedly attenuated cAMP content increased by overdrive pacing. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that in correlation with alterations of cardiac cycle nucleotide contents, cicletanine protects the heart against pacing-induced myocardial ischemia.

Platelet-activating factor in septic shock.

Septic shock induced by endotoxins of Gram-negative bacteria, or toxins of Gram-positive bacteria and fungi, deserves particular interest because of its high mortality rate. In experimental animals, treatment with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin of Gram-negative bacteria) mimics the symptoms of septic shock. Thus, this treatment has become an important method in animal models of septic shock. Endotoxin induces release of platelet-activating factor and cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor and interleukins. Platelet-activating factor derived from macrophages, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and platelets is a potent phospholipid inflammatory mediator that increases cell adhesion and activates endothelial cells by direct effect or through formation of toxic oxygen species and arachidonic acid metabolites, such as thromboxane A2 and leukotriene B4. Platelet-activating factor interacts with cytokines, and this interaction leads to an autocatalytic amplification of inflammatory mediator release. The release of inflammatory mediators by interaction of platelet-activating factor with cytokines is characterized by bell-shaped concentration-effect curves. For example, in a certain concentration range, platelet-activating factor or cytokines induce a mediator release that is proportional to the stimulation. However, over-stimulation may lead to a decrease of mediator release or a prevalence of the release of a single mediator. Down-regulatory processes may be brought about by platelet-activating factor-induced prostacyclin or adenosine release that activates adenylate cyclase and increases intracellular cyclic adenosine 3'5'-monophosphate concentrations. Down-regulation may protect inflammatory and endothelial cells from overstimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Zaprinast, cicletanine, and verapamil attenuate overdrive pacing-induced myocardial ischemia in conscious rabbits.

In conscious rabbits equipped with right ventricular electrode and left ventricular polyethylene catheters, zaprinast and cicletanine, inhibitors of phosphodiesterase (PDE) V and PDEs I and V, respectively, as well as verapamil, a Ca2+ channel blocker, decreased intracavital ST-segment elevation induced by ventricular overdrive pacing (VOP). Zaprinast and cicletanine attenuated VOP-induced QT reduction and increase in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), whereas verapamil increased LVEDP. These results suggest that inhibition of cGMP-PDEs can protect heart against ischemia.

Involvement of PAF in atherogenesis. Brief review.

Crucial points have been recently explored between formation, release and breakdown of PAF and atherosclerotic plaque formation. Experimental and clinical studies suggest that an autocatalytic feedback network among PAF, cytokines and growth factors contributes to atherogenesis. This novel approach to atherogenesis deserves future therapeutical importance.

Recovery of postischemic brain metabolism and function following treatment with a free radical scavenger and platelet-activating factor antagonists.

We have studied the metabolic and functional effects of two new platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonists (BN 50726 and BN 50739) and their diluent (dimethyl sulfoxide; DMSO) during reoxygenation of the 14-min ischemic isolated brain. Blood gases, EEG, auditory evoked potentials, cerebral metabolic rate for glucose (CMRglc), and cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen (CMRO2) were monitored throughout the study. Frozen brain samples were taken for measurement of brain tissue high-energy phosphates, carbohydrate content, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive material (TBAR, an indicator of lipid peroxidation) at the end of the study. Following 60 min of reoxygenation in the nontreated 14-min ischemic brains, lactate, AMP, creatine (Cr), intracellular hydrogen ion concentration [H+]i), and TBAR values were significantly higher and ATP, creatine phosphate (PCr), CMRglc, CMRO2, and energy charge (EC) values were significantly lower than the corresponding normoxic control values. PCr and CMRO2 values were significantly higher, and glycogen, AMP, and [H+]i values were significantly lower in the BN 50726-treated ischemic brains than in DMSO-treated ischemic brains. In brains treated with BN 50739, ATP, ADP, PCr, CMRO2, and EC values were significantly higher, and lactate, AMP, Cr, and [H+]i values were significantly lower than corresponding values in the DMSO-treated ischemic brains. TBAR values were near control levels in all brains exposed to DMSO. There was also marked recovery of EEG and auditory evoked potentials in brains treated with DMSO. Treatment with BN 50726 or BN 50739 in DMSO appeared to improve brain mitochondrial function and energy metabolism partly as the result of DMSO action as a free radical scavenger.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)