Phosphorescent iridium-containing nanomicelles: synthesis, characterization and preliminary applications in nanomedical imaging.

Diagnostic nanomedicine constantly requires the development of novel contrast agents with intrinsic imaging capabilities. Phosphorescent Ir(iii)-complexes represent good candidates when delivered through polymeric nanoparticles. In this work, we propose a biocompatible nanoparticle made from an intrinsically phosphorescent copolymer, synthesized directly with an imaging tag present on its backbone. Polymeric nanoparticles can be obtained with the exact amount of phosphorescent moieties needed to maximize their output signal. Complete characterization and ex vivo studies confirmed that this nanosystem is suitable as a future diagnostic tool.

Coronary vasoconstriction induced by vasopressin. Production of myocardial ischemia in dogs by constriction of nondiseased small vessels.

BACKGROUND: We studied the effect of intracoronary administration of arginine-8-vasopressin on blood flow in nondiseased coronary arteries and determined whether this vasoconstriction was severe enough to produce ischemia in 30 dogs. METHODS AND RESULTS: In group 1 (n = 6), after vasopressin administration coronary blood flow was decreased by 41% (p less than 0.002) without changes in heart rate or aortic pressure, and left ventricular ejection fraction measured by radionuclide angiocardiography was decreased by 18% (p less than 0.0005). In group 2 (n = 6), ischemia was confirmed by measurement of transmural pH changes. Administration of vasopressin decreased subendocardial pH of the infused zone from 7.40 +/- 0.03 to 7.31 +/- 0.07 (p less than 0.01). The subendocardial pH of the zone not infused with vasopressin did not change. To overcome the intrinsic regulation of blood flow, operating primarily in small coronary arteries, we hypothesized that vasopressin must increase resistance primarily in large rather than small coronary arteries. After intracoronary infusion in group 3 (n = 6), however, most (94%) of the increase in resistance during vasopressin administration was explained by an increase of resistance in small coronary arteries. In group 4 (n = 9), vasopressin decreased coronary blood flow by 50% and decreased local shortening by 90% at a time when systemic hemodynamics were unchanged. Coronary constriction induced by vasopressin, or the recovery from it, also was not altered by cyclooxygenase blockade. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, vasopressin produces myocardial ischemia by constricting small, nondiseased coronary arteries severely enough to overcome the competition from normal coronary regulation, and this ischemic event is not mediated by prostaglandin products.

Neuropeptide-Y. A peptide found in human coronary arteries constricts primarily small coronary arteries to produce myocardial ischemia in dogs.

Neuropeptide-Y (NPY), a brain peptide, is located in the walls of human coronary arteries. This study assessed the effects of NPY on the coronary circulation in 40 chloralose-anesthetized, open-chest dogs. Intracoronary NPY (42 nmol over 5.2 min) caused a 39% reduction in coronary blood flow without changing heart rate or aortic pressure. To determine whether this vasoconstriction could produce ischemia, intramyocardial pH was measured in seven dogs (group I) and decreased from 7.45 +/- 0.06 to 7.37 +/- 0.06 pH units after NPY in the subendocardium (P less than 0.0002), and from 7.45 +/- 0.06 to 7.40 +/- 0.05 pH units (P less than 0.04) in the subepicardium of the infused zone. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), measured by radionuclide angiography, decreased from 0.52 +/- 0.08 to 0.42 +/- 0.12 U (n = 5, P less than 0.01) during NPY. NPY-induced vasoconstriction was also associated with ST-T wave changes on the electrocardiogram (ECG) in eight of nine other animals (group V). In another group of six dogs (group IV), the change in small vessel resistance accounted for 94% of the increase in total resistance, so that the primary vasoconstrictor effect of NPY was exerted on small coronary arteries. Thus, NPY, a peptide found in human coronary arteries, caused constriction of primarily small coronary arteries that was severe enough to produce myocardial ischemia as determined by ECG ST-T wave changes, and decreases in intramyocardial pH and LVEF in dogs.

Functional consequences and intracoronary localization of alpha-adrenergic stimulation of the canine coronary circulation.

Although alpha-adrenergic stimulation can increase coronary vascular resistance, it remains unknown whether the vasoconstriction can override intrinsic coronary regulatory influences to produce ischemia. Methoxamine, 2 to 4 mg, was infused into the circumflex coronary artery of 23 chloralose-anesthetized open chest dogs, and resulted in a 68% increase in coronary vascular resistance. The functional consequence of this increased coronary vascular resistance was assessed by gated radionuclide ventriculography and ST-T wave changes on the electrocardiogram. In six dogs (Group I), aortic pressure changed trivially (less than 5 mm Hg) to allow distinction between direct effects of the flow reduction and indirect effects of increased aortic pressure. In this group, coronary blood flow decreased 33% from a control value of 44 +/- 10 ml/min (p less than 0.001) and left ventricular ejection fraction decreased from 0.54 +/- 0.12 to 0.46 +/- 0.10 (p less than 0.025). In eight dogs (Group II) in which aortic pressure increased by more than 5 mm Hg, left ventricular ejection fraction decreased from 0.46 +/- 0.07 to 0.39 +/- 0.09 (p less than 0.002). Pressure gradients were measured between the aorta and a distal coronary artery branch to calculate small and large vessel resistances separately in four other dogs (Group III). The resistance of small coronary arteries accounted for 92% of the total increase in coronary vascular resistance produced by methoxamine. In five other dogs (Group IV), intracoronary methoxamine, 2 mg, produced ST-T wave changes suggestive of ischemia as it increased coronary vascular resistance by 33%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine uptake sites in dog heart and brain; interaction with calcium antagonists.

[3H] Nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBI) binding is characterized in dog heart and brain. Evidence is presented suggesting that [3H]NBI is binding to the adenosine uptake site in both tissues. Physiologic studies in open-chested dogs clearly demonstrate that NBI acts as a coronary vasodilator, consistent with an action at the adenosine uptake site. The binding is reversible, saturable and of high affinity (KD = 0.78 +/- .06 nM for heart and 0.52 +/- .05 nM for brain). Both dipyridamole and hexobendine are high potency inhibitors of [3H]NBI binding in heart and brain while other antihypertensives and vasodilators such as propranolol and nitroglycerin have no effect. The inhibition of [3H]NBI binding observed with dipyridamole was competitive indicating that both agents are acting at the same site. The dihydropyridine calcium antagonists also inhibited binding with a lower potency than the adenosine uptake blockers. Non-dihydropyridine calcium antagonists were much less potent in this regard. The inhibition of [3H]NBI binding observed with the dihydropyridine calcium antagonists was non-competitive suggesting that the calcium channel and adenosine uptake site may be coupled to each other.