Capsaicin as a source for painful stimulation in functional MRI.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to examine the brain processing of capsaicin-induced painful stimulation in the alpha-chloralose anesthetized rat. Experiments were performed on a 9.4-T magnet (Magnex, UK) with Avance console (Bruker, Germany) using a surface coil tuned to 400.5 MHz centred over the rat forebrain. Gradient-echo images of two slices, with an echo time of 25 msec, repetition time of 70 msec, and 50 repetitions, were acquired per experiment. These images were analyzed using a fuzzy cluster analysis technique (EvIdent). Activation of areas of the brain known to be associated with the processing of pain, namely the anterior cingulate (bilateral), frontal cortex (bilateral), and sensory motor cortex (contralateral), was found in all animals (N = 6) following injection of 25 microl of capsaicin (128 microg/mL in 7.5% dimethylsulfoxide [DMSO]) into the dorsal forepaw. It is possible to reproduce the pain response in a given animal several times throughout the course of an experiment, provided that sufficient time is allowed between capsaicin injections. This acute phase of capsaicin-induced pain involving stimulation of C polymodal nociceptors was examined by functional imaging. There was a substantial initial increase in activation in regions of the brain associated with pain and there was a trend towards increasing activation with repeated stimulations. Treatment with morphine (3 mg/kg, intravenously) was found to substantially reduce, if not completely eliminate, the areas of functional activation associated with physiologic pain (anterior cingulate and frontal cortex) after C-nociceptor stimulation with capsaicin (N = 6). FMRI involving capsaicin-induced painful stimulation could prove to be an effective tool for the study of novel analgesics and the central nervous system processing of pain.

An inhibitor of poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase activity reduces contractile dysfunction and preserves high energy phosphate levels during reperfusion of the ischaemic rat heart.

The cardioprotective properties of inhibition of poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase (PARS) were investigated in the isolated perfused heart of the rat. Hearts were perfused in the Langendorff mode and subjected to 23 min total global ischaemia and reperfused for 60 min. Left ventricular function was assessed by means of an intra-ventricular balloon. High energy phosphates were measured by 31P-NMR spectroscopy. Intracellular levels of NAD were measured by capillary electrophoresis of perchloric acid extracts of hearts at the end of reperfusion. Reperfusion in the presence of the PARS inhibitor 1,5 didroxyisoquinoline (ISO, 100 microM) attenuated the mechanical dysfunction observed following 1 h of reperfusion; 27+/-13 and 65+/-8% recovery of preischaemic rate pressure product for control and 100 microM ISO, respectively. This cardioprotection was accompanied by a preservation of intracellular high-energy phosphates during reperfusion; 38+/-2 vs 58+/-4% (P<0.05) of preischaemic levels of phosphocreatine (PCr) for control and 100 microM ISO respectively and 23+/-1 vs 31+/-3% (P < 0.05) of preischaemic levels of ATP for control and 100 microM ISO respectively. Cellular levels of NAD were higher in ISO treated hearts at the end of reperfusion; 2.56+/-0.45 vs 4.76+/-1.12 micromoles g(-1) dry weight (P<0.05) for control and ISO treated. These results demonstrate that the cardioprotection afforded by inhibition of PARS activity with ISO is accompanied by a preservation of high-energy phosphates and cellular NAD levels and suggest that the mechanism responsible for this cardioprotection may involve prevention of intracellular ATP depletion.

Inhibition of apoptosis after ischemia-reperfusion in rat myocardium by cycloheximide.

Macromolecular synthesis inhibitors protect cells from apoptosis in many systems. To determine whether the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX) might inhibit apoptosis and protect the myocardium during ischemia-reperfusion, we subjected isovolumic isolated perfused rat hearts to 25 min of normothermic global ischemia followed by reperfusion. We monitored coronary flow, end-diastolic pressure and rate-pressure product (RPP) throughout and assessed apoptosis by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). Regardless of the treatment regimen (only before ischemia; only during reperfusion; or both before ischemia and during reperfusion), CHX significantly improved functional recovery during reperfusion. These effects were most pronounced when CHX was present during reperfusion. When hearts were treated with CHX only during reperfusion the recovery of sinus rhythm was more frequent in the CHX-treated hearts than control hearts (80% v 53%) and earlier for CHX-treated than control hearts: 6.4 +/- 2 v 19.4 +/- 4.7 min of reperfusion. The maximal RPP recoveries for the CHX-treated hearts were 45 +/- 4.0% (P=0.005) of pre-ischemic values, compared to 26 +/- 3% for controls. In control hearts reperfused for 2 h, TUNEL identified 49.5 +/- 10 intact nuclei and 7.5 +/- 2 fragmented nuclei per 1000 nuclei counted. A significantly lower incidence of labeled nuclei with or without fragmentation was observed in CHX treated hearts: 7.6 +/- 3.4 (P=0.009) intact labeled nuclei and 1.8 +/- 0.7/10(3)fragmented labeled nuclei. Our results suggest that CHX-induced inhibition of apoptosis in reperfused myocardium is cardioprotective and promotes functional recovery in vitro.

Na(+)-H+ exchange inhibition at reperfusion is cardioprotective during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion; 31P NMR studies.

To help resolve the controversy as to whether or not Na(+)-H+ exchange is functioning during reperfusion of the ischemic myocardium we assessed the effects of dimethylamiloride (DMA, an amiloride analogue possessing selectivity for inhibition of the Na(+)-H+ exchanger) on cardiac function and intracellular pH during ischemia-reperfusion. Studies were performed in the presence of bicarbonate (modified Krebs-Henseleit buffer) or in the nominal absence of bicarbonate (HEPES buffer) in order to determine if similar cardioprotection and effects on intracellular pH were observed in the presence and absence of bicarbonate dependent transport processes. Isovolumic rat hearts were perfused in the Langendorff mode at a constant pressure of 80 mm Hg and subjected to 28 min total global ischemia at 37 degrees C. Intracellular pH was determined from the pH dependent shift of the inorganic phosphate peak in 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. DMA (20 microM) was infused for either 2.5 min before ischemia, for the initial 5 min of reperfusion, or at both time intervals. DMA had no effect on the intracellular pH during ischemia. Intracellular pH returned to pre-ischemic levels within 2.5 min of reperfusion in bicarbonate buffer. This normalization of pH was slower in HEPES perfusate. In both bicarbonate and HEPES perfused hearts all drug dosing regimens caused a significant increase in the recovery of mechanical function after reperfusion and slowed the recovery of intracellular pH during reperfusion. These results suggest that the Na(+)-H+ exchanger is activated during reperfusion of the ischemic myocardium, that this activation of the exchanger contributes to ischemia-reperfusion induced cardiac dysfunction and that administration of an inhibitor of Na(+)-H+ exchange at reperfusion significantly attenuates the deleterious effects of exchanger activation.

Effects of cromakalim and glibenclamide on myocardial high energy phosphates and intracellular pH during ischemia-reperfusion: 31P NMR studies.

ATP sensitive potassium channel (KATP) openers (e.g. cromakalim) are thought to be cardioprotective during ischemia-reperfusion, while KATP blockers (e.g. glibenclamide) may potentiate ischemia-reperfusion damage. We studied cardiac energetics and intracellular pH, by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy, during ischemia-reperfusion of buffer perfused, isolated rat hearts in the presence of cromakalim (10 microM) or glibenclamide (1, 10 and 50 microM). Hearts were subjected to 25 min total global ischemia at 36.5 degrees C and reperfused for 45 min. Pre-treatment with cromakalim delayed the time to ischemic contracture (19.3 +/- 1.5 min v 15.3 +/- 0.6 for control, P < 0.05) and significantly improved recovery of function at 45 min reperfusion (84 +/- 11% pre-ischemic rate pressure product (RPP) v 38 +/- 5 for control, P < 0.05). This was accompanied by an attenuation in the loss of ATP during ischemia. Pre-treatment with glibenclamide decreased the time to ischemic contracture: 16.1 +/- 0.8 min. 15.1 +/- 0.7, 12.0 +/- 1.2 (P < 0.01) and 9.5 +/- 0.9 (P < 0.001) for control, 1, 10 and 50 microM glibenclamide respectively. 50 microM glibenclamide significantly improved functional recovery at 45 min reperfusion but 1 and 10 microM were without effect; 24 +/- 6, 22 +/- 4, 29 +/- 4 and 58 +/- 7% (P < 0.05) of pre-ischemic RPP for control, 1, 10 and 50 microM glibenclamide. During ischemia, intracellular ATP was depleted more rapidly in the presence of 50 microM glibenclamide and intracellular acidosis was significantly attenuated (final pH 6.3 v 5.8 for control). 50 microM glibenclamide also decreased tissue lactate content at the end of ischemia (75 +/- 3 mumol/g dry weight v 125 +/- 18 for control, P < 0.05) and this attenuation of lactate accumulation and consequent decreased intracellular acidosis may be responsible for the cardioprotection observed under these conditions. These latter effects are unlikely to be related to glibenclamide's KATP blocking activity. This study demonstrates that blocking of myocardial KATP does not potentiate ischemia-reperfusion injury and, in addition, illustrates the important role played by intracellular acidosis in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange and Ca2+ channel characteristics in bovine aorta and coronary artery smooth muscle sarcolemmal membranes.

Tension generation and Ca2+ flux in smooth muscle varies depending upon the diameter of a vessel and its location. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine if the biochemical characteristics of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger and the Ca2+ channel differ in sarcolemmal membrane preparations isolated from a large conduit vessel (thoracic aorta) or from large and small coronary arteries. We also investigated the possibility of differences between sarcolemmal membranes isolated from coronary arteries dissected from the right and left ventricles. The purification of the sarcolemmal membranes was of a similar magnitude amongst the different groups. Contamination of the sarcolemmal membranes with other membranous organelles was negligible and similar amongst the groups. The Km and Vmax of Na(+)-dependent Ca2+ uptake in sarcolemmal vesicles was similar amongst the groups. Calcium channel characteristics were examined by measuring [3H] PN200-110 binding to sarcolemmal vesicles. The right coronary artery membranes from both large and small caliber vessels exhibited a higher Kd and the small right coronary artery sarcolemmal preparation had a lower maximal binding density for [3H] PN200-110. The results suggest that the right coronary artery, and in particular the small diameter right coronary artery, possesses altered Ca2+ channel characteristics in isolated sarcolemmal membranes.

Effect of high-dose verapamil administration on the Ca2+ channel density in rat cardiac tissue.

It is well known that beta-adrenergic receptors will down-regulate in the presence of high circulating levels of beta-adrenergic agonists over extended periods of time. However, less is known with respect to the effect of Ca2+ channel antagonist on their receptors. The purpose of this study was to determine if chronic administration of high dosages of verapamil (in the toxic range) could alter the density of Ca2+ channels in the heart as determined by [3H]PN 200-110 binding. A range of high verapamil concentrations was administered to rats via s.c. implantable slow-release pellets or s.c. injection. An increasing rate of mortality was observed as the dose of verapamil administered increased. Quantitation of serum verapamil concentrations demonstrated that the s.c. slow release implantable pellets were not releasing the drug evenly and instead released toxic quantities of drug during the first 24 h after implantation. Serum verapamil levels determined from verapamil-injected animals demonstrated a dose-dependent increase in circulating levels. No significant alterations in Ca2+ channel characteristics (Bmax and Kd) were noted in cardiac tissue obtained from either treatment regime. Our results demonstrate that implantable pellets are not a reliable administration method for verapamil and cardiac Ca2+ channels are unusually resistant to biochemical alterations even after administration of verapamil dosages in the toxic range.

Effect of chronic administration of verapamil on Ca++ channel density in rat tissue.

The purpose of this study was to determine if chronic administration of verapamil could alter the density of Ca++ channels in the heart as determined by [3H]PN 200-110 binding. Initially, we compared the effects of verapamil given by s.c. injection or via implantable, slow-release verapamil pellets. We found the majority of animals treated with the pellets died within 24 hr. Those that survived exhibited significantly depressed maximal binding and Kd values for PN 200-110 binding to cardiac membranes, but binding to brain membranes was unaffected. Quantitation of the serum levels of verapamil and its metabolites by high-performance liquid chromatography demonstrated that the verapamil pellets did not release the drug evenly over a 3-week period. Most of the drug was released in toxic quantities during the 1st day after implantation. Verapamil administered by injection (2.5-30 mg/kg/day) for up to 16 weeks raised plasma verapamil levels to 25 to 250 ng/ml, but had no effect on Ca++ channel characteristics in cardiac or brain tissue. The maximal binding and Kd values for skeletal muscle PN 200-110 binding were increased only at the highest dosage for 8 weeks duration. Our results demonstrate that implantable pellets are not a reliable administration method for verapamil and cardiac Ca++ channels are highly resistant to change during chronic verapamil administration.

Effect of indomethacin on arachidonic acid metabolism in human leukocytes stimulated ex vivo.

We had previously shown that inhibition of cyclooxygenase in vitro by indomethacin can cause increased formation of products of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism in leukocytes. To determine if this effect also occurred in vivo, we studied leukocyte arachidonic acid metabolism in 12 volunteers before and after ingestion of 150 mg indomethacin daily for 3 days. Blood was collected before treatment and 2 hours, 2 days, and 5 days after the final dose of indomethacin. Serum thromboxane B2, a measure of platelet cyclooxygenase activity, was profoundly suppressed 2 hours after the final dose of indomethacin but had recovered to control values at 2 days. Mixed leukocyte suspensions and purified neutrophil suspensions were prepared and stimulated with calcium ionophore A23187 and the resultant 5-lipoxygenase metabolites were quantified by HPLC. Two hours after the final dose of indomethacin, the stimulated levels of 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, leukotriene B4, and leukotriene C4 were significantly increased to 247% +/- 68%, 135% +/- 14%, and 149% +/- 23% of pretreatment values, respectively. Two days after the final dose of indomethacin, 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid levels were still significantly elevated. By 5 days all parameters had returned to baseline. Similar effects were not observed in purified neutrophil suspensions, probably because of the loss of indomethacin from the cells during the multiple washing procedures used in their preparation. This is in accord with the reversible nature of the inhibitory effect of indomethacin on cyclooxygenase. We conclude that indomethacin at a commonly used dose increases the ability of circulating leukocytes to produce 5-lipoxygenase products.

A reassessment of the bleeding time: association of age, hematocrit, platelet function, von Willebrand factor, and bleeding time thromboxane B2 with the length of the bleeding time.

In order to provide an overview of the relative contribution of platelet, von Willebrand factor, and other abnormalities to patients with clinical bleeding difficulties, we performed a retrospective survey of coagulation studies on 569 individuals referred to the University of Manitoba coagulation laboratory because they, or a closely related family member, showed clinical evidence of a bleeding disorder. There was a highly significant (p less than 0.001) negative correlation between the bleeding time and each of the following parameters: the platelet count; the hematocrit; the percent aggregation to collagen, epinephrine, ADP, and arachidonic acid; and the logarithm of von Willebrand factor antigen and a measure of its activity (ristocetin cofactor). A significant and independent inverse relationship between the length of the bleeding time and the extent of platelet adhesion to glass beads, patient age, and prothrombin consumption were also observed. Multivariate analysis of the ability of all parameters to predict the bleeding time showed an r2 of only 0.33. Bleeding time thromboxane B2, in a second smaller study of 70 patients, showed a negative correlation with the length of the bleeding time (p = 0.0001), and, when used together with the above parameters, significantly enhanced the ability to predict the length of the bleeding time (r2 = 0.55). Defects in platelet function, as measured in vitro, and significant enough to have an effect on the bleeding time, occurred with greater frequency than defects in von Willebrand factor in the Manitoba patients evaluated.

In vivo measurement of thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha in humans in response to a standardized vascular injury and the influence of aspirin.

The effects of smoking, aspirin ingestion, and sex differences on bleeding times and bleeding time thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin (PG)F1 alpha production were examined. Nonsmoking men produced more thromboxane B2 (3.99 +/- 0.76 ng/ml) than nonsmoking women (2.13 +/- 0.24 ng/ml). Female smokers produced more thromboxane B2 (5.01 +/- 0.97 ng/ml) than nonsmoking women. Twenty-four hours after a single dose of 600 mg aspirin, in vitro production of thromboxane B2 in response to collagen fell by 95%, whereas in vivo production of thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in bleeding time blood fell by 87% and 66%, respectively. Subjects with the lowest absolute levels of thromboxane B2 24 hours after aspirin were also those with the longest postaspirin bleeding times. Recovery of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha production was faster than recovery of thromboxane B2 production, but 6-keto-PGF1 alpha production for most subjects was still below basal 72 hours after aspirin. The influence of two different doses of long-term aspirin (80 mg every other day and 325 mg daily) on the in vivo production of thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was studied in normals and diabetics. After 14 days of 80 mg aspirin every other day, thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha production were both substantially inhibited (93% and 78%, respectively). After 14 days of 325 mg aspirin daily, thromboxane B2 production was similarly substantially inhibited (93%), whereas 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was significantly less affected (only 45% inhibition). Study of a second group of five normal subjects confirmed that 6-keto-PGF1 alpha production was significantly inhibited 24 hours after the first dose of 325 mg aspirin but was not significantly less than basal after 14 days of 325 mg aspirin. The results suggest that 325 mg aspirin daily is more antithrombotic compared with 80 mg every other day due to the superior preservation of prostacyclin production.

Indomethacin increases the formation of lipoxygenase products in calcium ionophore stimulated human neutrophils.

Arachidonic acid metabolism in human neutrophils stimulated in vitro with the calcium ionophore A23187 was studied using combined HPLC and radioimmunoassays. Indomethacin (0.1 and 1.0 microM) caused a 300% increase in LTB4 formation in neutrophils stimulated with A23187. 5-, 12- and 15-HETE levels were also increased. In the presence of exogenous arachidonic acid 1.0 microM Indomethacin caused a 37% increase in LTB4 formation. Acetyl Salicylic Acid and Ibuprofen had no effect on the formation of lipoxygenase metabolites. The effect of indomethacin on LTB4 formation does not appear to be due to a simple redirection of substrate arachidonic acid from the cyclooxygenase to the lipoxygenase pathways.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for 6-keto PGF1 alpha.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for 6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha, a stable metabolite of prostacyclin, has been developed. The assay allows quantitation of 6-keto PGF1 alpha in the range 1-200 pg/0.1 ml and shows very low cross reactivity to nine other prostaglandins. Dose dependent stimulation by thrombin of 6-keto PGF1 alpha formation in human endothelial cells in culture has been used to verify the assay. Quantitation by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay agrees closely with determination by radioimmunoassay.

Activation of permeabilized platelets by inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate.

The effect of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) was studied using human platelets permeabilized with saponin and suspended in a high potassium, Ca2+-free buffer containing 40 microM EGTA and 1.2 mM magnesium. Under these conditions IP3 stimulated aggregation at a concentration of 0.5 microM with maximum aggregation at 5.0 microM. Aggregation was associated with phosphorylation of myosin light chain and a 47,000 dalton protein, and with a change in platelet shape including granule centralization and pseudopod formation similar to changes seen when cytoplasmic calcium is raised by other means. IP3 stimulated [14C]-serotonin release from platelet dense granules, [14C]-arachidonic acid release from platelet phospholipids and production of thromboxane B2. Preincubation of platelets with aspirin which blocked thromboxane formation also inhibited protein phosphorylation, serotonin secretion and partially inhibited aggregation. These results support the concept that IP3 is a major intracellular messenger in platelets and suggests that its effects are mediated both through Ca2+ flux and thromboxane formation.

Methene bridge carbon atom elimination in oxidative heme degradation catalyzed by heme oxygenase and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase.

Physiological heme degradation is mediated by the heme oxygenase system consisting of heme oxygenase and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase. Biliverdin IX alpha is formed by elimination of one methene bridge carbon atom as CO. Purified NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase alone will also degrade heme but biliverdin is a minor product (15%). The enzymatic mechanisms of heme degradation in the presence and absence of heme oxygenase were compared by analyzing the recovery of 14CO from the degradation of [14C]heme. 14CO recovery from purified NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase-catalyzed degradation of [14C]methemalbumin was 15% of the predicted value for one molecule of CO liberated per mole of heme degraded. 14CO2 and [14C]formic acid were formed in amounts (18 and 98%, respectively), suggesting oxidative cleavage of more than one methene bridge per heme degraded, similar to heme degradation by hydrogen peroxide. The reaction was strongly inhibited by catalase, but superoxide dismutase had no effect. [14C]Heme degradation by the reconstituted heme oxygenase system yielded 33% 14CO. Near-stoichiometric recovery of 14CO was achieved after addition of catalase to eliminate side reactions. Near-quantitative recovery of 14CO was also achieved using spleen microsomal preparations. Heme degradation by purified NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase appeared to be mediated by hydrogen peroxide. The major products were not bile pigments, and only small amounts of CO were formed. The presence of heme oxygenase, and possibly an intact membrane structure, were essential for efficient heme degradation to bile pigments, possibly by protecting the heme from indiscriminate attack by active oxygen species.

Mechanism of action of heme oxygenase. A study of heme degradation to bile pigment by 18O labeling.

The formation of bile pigment from heme by a reconstituted heme oxygenase system containing purified bovine spleen heme oxygenase, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, and biliverdin reductase was studied under an atmosphere containing 18,18O2. The product, bilirubin, was isolated and subjected to mass spectrometry, which revealed incorporation of 18O consistent with a two-molecule mechanism, whereby the product bile pigment contains oxygen atoms derived from two different oxygen molecules.

Haem degradation in human haemoglobin in vitro. Separation of the contribution of the alpha- and beta-subunits.

Human haemoglobin was prepared containing [14C]haem in either the alpha- or the beta-subunits. Coupled oxidation of such hybrid haemoglobins with ascorbate and O2 showed that the biliverdin produced by the alpha-subunits contained approx. 55% alpha-isomer and 45% beta-isomer, whereas that produced by the beta-subunits contained approx. 75% alpha-isomer and 25% beta-isomer. Coupled oxidation of isolated alpha- and beta-subunits gave approx. 70% alpha-isomer, 30% beta-isomer and 78% alpha-isomer, 22% beta-isomer respectively. These results are consistent with calculations of differences in the haem environment in the two subunit types.

Haem disorder in reconstituted human haemoglobin.

Degradation of the haem of haemoglobin (used as a chemical probe of the haem-protein relationship), suggests that reconstituted human haemoglobin contains significant haem disorder. This results from the insertion of haem into globin with an orientation 180 degrees different from the natural orientation. Haem disorder also slowly occurs in methaemoglobin solutions.

Haem degradation in abnormal haemoglobins.

The coupled oxidation of certain abnormal haemoglobins leads to different bile-pigment isomer distributions from that of normal haemoglobin. The isomer pattern may be correlated with the structure of the abnormal haemoglobin in the neighbourhood of the haem pocket. This is support for haem degradation by an intramolecular reaction.