AIM: To explore the effect of ischemic preconditioning on cardiac myocyte apoptosis and the expression of bcl-2 during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion in rats. METHODS: We use TUNEL,immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization(ISH) methods to detect the cardiac myocyte apoptosis and the expression of bcl-2 during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion in rats. RESULTS:① The numbers of positive cardiac myocyte nuclear and the percentage of positive cardiac myocyte nuclear in IP+I/R 3h group decreased significantly(P

AIM: To explore the effect of PKC activition on cardiac myocyte apoptosis and expression of bcl-2 during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion(I/R) in rats. METHODS: TUNEL,immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were used. RESULTS: The TUNEL data showed that the numbers of positive cardiac myocyte nucleus and the percentage of positive cardiac myocyte nucleus in PMA+IR 3 h group decreased significantly( P

AIM: To explore the effect of brief mesenteric artery occlusion (MAO) on cardiac myocyte apoptosis and bcl-2 expression during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in rats. METHODS: TUNEL,immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization(ISH) methods were applied in the present study. RESULTS: ① The numbers of positive cardiac myocyte nuclear and the percentage of positive cardiac myocyte nuclear in MAO+IR 3h group decreased significantly ( P

Objective To explore the effects of electrical stimulation below the contraction threshold on apoptosis and the expression of caspase-3 in cardiomyocytes after myocardial infarction in rats.Methods Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:a sham-operated group,a myocardial infarction group,an ischemic electrical stimulation group and a non-ischemic electrical stimulation group.TdT-mediated X-dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)was used to investigate apoptosis of cardiomyocytes.Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RTPCR)and immunohistochemical techniques were used to detect the expression of caspase-3.Results ①Compared with the sham-operated group,the amount of apoptotic cardiomyocytes increased significantly in the two electrical stimulation groups and the ischemic myocardium group.Compared with the ischemic myocardium group,apoptotic cardiomyocytes decreased significantly in the two electrical stimulation groups.There was no significant difference between the two electrical stimulation groups.②Compared with the sham-operated group,in the ischemic myocardium group and the two electrical stimulation groups,expression of caspase-3 increased significantly.Compared with the ischemic myocardium group,expression of caspase-3 decreased significantly in the two electrical stimulation groups.There was again no significant difference between the two electrical stimulation groups.Conclusions Electrical stimulation below the contraction threshold can reduce ischemic cardiomyocyte apoptosis in rats.The mechanisms may be associated with down-regulation of the expression of caspase-3.Electrical stimulation below the contraction threshold of the myocardium can also reduce cardiomyocyte apoptosis in rats.

Objective To observe the changes of autonomic nervous function in elderly patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) accompanying anxiety or depression, and to explore their clinical significance. Methods The 85 elderly inpatients with CHD, diagnosed by selective coronary angiography, were divided into anxiety group (32 cases), depression group (28 cases) and control group (simple CHD without anxiety or depression, 25 cases). The heart rate variability (HRV) was analyzed according to electrocardiograph detected by dynamic cardiograms. Results Compared with the controls, the standard deviation of normal to normal intervals (SDNN), the rate mean square of the differences of successive RR intervals (rMSSD), the percentage of RR intervals differing ＞ 50 ms (PNN50) and the high frequency (HF) decreased markedly in patients with CHD accompanying anxiety or depression, and the low frequency (LF) increased significantly in anxiety group than in control group [(348. 2 ± 70. 6) Hz vs. (295.4+70.0) Hz, t=2.78,P＜0.05], while the HF decreased significantly [(65. 5±14. 4) Hz vs. (77.9± 13. 7) Hz, t=3.16,P＜0. 05]. There were no significant differences between the anxiety group and depression group in the corresponding parameters. Conclusions The injury of vagus nerve function, also autonomic nerve system dysfunction are more seriously in patients with CHD accompanying anxiety or depression than with simple CHD. Actively treating patients with CHD accompanying anxiety or depression may improve their prognosis.

Objective To study the effects of 50 Hz low voltage electric stimulation on angiogenesis and the expression of VEGF in the ischemic myoeardium in rats. Methods Twelve Wistar rats with experimentally induced myocardial ischemia were randomly divided into an electric stimulation (ES) group and a control group. The animals in the electric stimulation group were electrically stimulated at 50 Hz and 0.3 V through electrodes implanted in the epicardium of the anterior wall of the left artrium. Those in the control group were delivered sham electrical stimula- tion through similar implanted electrodes. Immunohistochemistry was used to count endothelial cells (ECs) and measure the capillary density (CD). A reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to measure the expression of VEGF protein and VEGF mRNA. Results The number of ECs, and the CDs in the ES group were significantly greater than in the control group, and the expression of VEGF protein and VEGF mRNA was also significantly higher. Conclusions Low voltage electrical stimulation at 50 Hz can promote angiogenesis and the expression of VEGF in the ischemic myocardium in rats.

Objective To assess the effects of electric stimulating insular cortex on ECG and heart rate variability(HRV) in rats. Methods ⑴The total of 36 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group and electric stimulating group, and ECG was observed after electric stimulating insular cortex 1 hour with 500uA,50HZ current intensity. ⑵The total of 42 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham group,control group and electric stimulating group, then the control group and electric stimulating group were further divided into 70uA,500uA,1500uA,50HZ stimulating groups, each group containing 6 rats. Blood pressure, heart rate and HRV were observed after electric stimulation 1 hour. Results ⑴The ECG showed change,and heart rate and blood pressure of rats in the electric stimulating group significantly increased at 500uA after electric stimulation 1 hour compared with sham and control groups. ⑵The measured components of HRV of 500uA and 1500uA stimulating groups, such as percentages of NN intervals differences

Objective To observe the effects of electrical stimulation of the cerebellum′s fastigial nucleus on neurogenic autonomic functional disturbances in rats after ischemic stroke. Methods Right middle cerebral artery occlusions (MCAOs) were performed on rats and their heart rate variability (HRV) was analysed. The MCAO rats were randomly divided into a group whose cerebellar fastigial nuclei (FNS) were stimulated and a control group. The power spectrum components and chaos of their heart rate variability were analysed. The MCAOs were performed after two cerebellar fastigial nuclei had been destroyed by pretreatment with ibotenic acid (IBO), to investigate the effect of stimulating the cerebellum′s fastigial nucleus on heart rate variability. Results The power spectral components and chaos in the heart rate variability of the MCAO rats were reduced, and there was a significant difference in the effectiveness rate compared with the sham groups (P

AIM: To investigate the changes of gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in norepinephrine/ burn serum-induced astrocytes.METHODS: Immunofluorescence staining was used to show the distribution of VEGF in astrocytes after 24 h using norepinephrine/burn serum stimulation.Western blotting was used to detect protein expression of VEGF.Real time PCR was used to investigate expression of VEGF mRNA.RESULTS: ① Green fluorescence of protein expression of VEGF in astrocytes was increased when treated with high dose norepinephrine(50 ?mol/L).Green fluorescence of protein expression of VEGF in astrocytes was increased distinctness after burn serum stimulation.Green fluorescence protein expression of VEGF in astrocytes was increased significantly when high dose norepinephrine combined with burn serum stimulation was added.② VEGF protein expression in burn serum stimulating group was increased,and VEGF protein expression was significantly increased when burn serum was added during moderate(20 ?mol/L),high dose norepinephrine stimulation.③ Expression of VEGF mRNA was increased in burn serumtreated astrocytes.Expression of VEGF mRNA was increased significantly when norepinephrine-stimulated astrocytes exposed to barn serum,and as norepinephrine dose increases gradually.CONCLUSION: Norepinephrine and burn serum play an important role in inducing VEGF protein expression in astrocytes,suggesting that stress reaction of postburn is an important cause in inducing brain edema by excreting VEGF in astrocytes.

AIM: To investigate the effect of norepinephrine (NE) on brain tissue VEGF protein expression in 24 h after severe burns. METHODS: (1) 40% total body surface area (TBSA) Ⅲ? burn model was made in Wistar males rats. Brain water (%) was examined at 24 h after burn. (2) NE levels in the rat brain tissue were determined by high performence liquid chromatography. (3) VEGF protein levels in the rat brain tissue were determined by Western blotting at 24 h of postburn. RESULTS: (1) Brain edema exhibited at the burns and burn with norepinephrine groups. (2) A increase in NE levels in the rat brain tissue was observed at the burns. NE levels increased significantly in burn with norepinephrine groups. (3) VEGF protein expression in the rat brain tissue was gradually increased with increasing in norepinephrine stimulating dose. VEGF protein expression in the burn rats brain tissue was significantly increased in burn with high dose of norepinephrine stimulation. CONCLUSION: Norepinephrine induced VEGF protein expression in rat brain tissue at 24 h after severe burn, suggesting that increases in norepinephrine level postburn induce brain edema.