1.Interaction between macrophages and ferroptosis: Metabolism, function, and diseases.
Qiaoling JIANG ; Rongjun WAN ; Juan JIANG ; Tiao LI ; Yantong LI ; Steven YU ; Bingrong ZHAO ; Yuanyuan LI
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(5):509-522
Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent programmed cell death process driven by reactive oxygen species-mediated lipid peroxidation, is regulated by several metabolic processes, including iron metabolism, lipid metabolism, and redox system. Macrophages are a group of innate immune cells that are widely distributed throughout the body, and play pivotal roles in maintaining metabolic balance by its phagocytic and efferocytotic effects. There is a profound association between the biological functions of macrophage and ferroptosis. Therefore, this review aims to elucidate three key aspects of the unique relationship between macrophages and ferroptosis, including macrophage metabolism and their regulation of cellular ferroptosis; ferroptotic stress that modulates functions of macrophage and promotion of inflammation; and the effects of macrophage ferroptosis and its role in diseases. Finally, we also summarize the possible mechanisms of macrophages in regulating the ferroptosis process at the global and local levels, as well as the role of ferroptosis in the macrophage-mediated inflammatory process, to provide new therapeutic insights for a variety of diseases.
Ferroptosis/physiology*
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Macrophages/metabolism*
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Humans
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Animals
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Iron/metabolism*
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Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism*
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Lipid Peroxidation/physiology*
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Inflammation/metabolism*
2.Research progress on the role and mechanism of ferroptosis in heart diseases.
Yu-Tong CUI ; Xin-Xin ZHU ; Qi ZHANG ; Ai-Juan QU
Acta Physiologica Sinica 2025;77(1):75-84
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in China, with its morbidity and mortality continue to rise. Ferroptosis, a unique form of iron-dependent cell death, plays a major role in many heart diseases. The classical mechanisms of ferroptosis include iron metabolism disorder, oxidative antioxidant imbalance and lipid peroxidation. Recent studies have found many additional mechanisms of ferroptosis, such as coenzyme Q10, ferritinophagy, lipid autophagy, mitochondrial metabolism disorder, and the regulation by nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2). This article reviews recent advances in understanding the mechanisms of ferroptosis and its role in heart failure, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, diabetic cardiomyopathy, myocardial toxicity of doxorubicin, septic cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmia. Furthermore, we discuss the potential of ferroptosis inhibitors/inducers as therapeutic targets for heart diseases, suggesting that ferroptosis may be an important intervention target of heart diseases.
Ferroptosis/physiology*
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Humans
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Heart Diseases/physiopathology*
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NF-E2-Related Factor 2/physiology*
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Animals
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Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/physiopathology*
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Lipid Peroxidation
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Heart Failure/physiopathology*
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Iron/metabolism*
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Diabetic Cardiomyopathies/physiopathology*
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Ubiquinone/analogs & derivatives*
3.mTOR promotes oxLDL-induced vascular smooth muscle cell ferroptosis by inhibiting autophagy.
Yi LI ; Lijun ZHANG ; Yuke ZHANG ; Qi ZHANG ; Lijun ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Cellular and Molecular Immunology 2025;41(8):687-694
Objective To explore the role and mechanism of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-induced ferroptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Methods A model of oxLDL-induced VSMC ferroptosis was established. VSMCs were co-treated with either the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin or the autophagy inducer carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), followed by detection of autophagy and ferroptosis-related indexes. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot were used respectively to analyze the expression of mTOR, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), sequestosome 1 (p62), and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3). Flow cytometry was employed to assess VSMC death. C11 BODIPY fluorescent staining was used to measure cellular lipid peroxidation levels. Colorimetric assays were performed to determine the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), ferrous ion (Fe2+) and glutathione (GSH). Results oxLDL significantly upregulated mTOR expression in VSMCs, while increasing p62 expression and reducing LC3 expression, thereby suppressing VSMC autophagy. Compared with oxLDL treatment alone, rapamycin co-treatment reversed oxLDL-induced VSMC ferroptosis, as characterized by reduced VSMC death, increased GPX4 expression and GSH contents, along with decreased MDA content, Fe2+ content and lipid peroxidation levels. Similarly, CCCP co-treatment activated autophagy characterized by reduced p62 expression and elevated LC3 expression, which subsequently alleviated oxLDL-induced ferroptosis, showing reduced VSMC death, increased GPX4 expressions and GSH contents, and decreased MDA content, Fe2+ content and lipid peroxidation levels. Moreover, mTOR inhibition by rapamycin significantly reversed the oxLDL-induced upregulation of p62 and downregulation of LC3. Conclusion mTOR may promote oxLDL-induced VSMC ferroptosis by suppressing autophagy.
Ferroptosis/drug effects*
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Lipoproteins, LDL/metabolism*
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TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/physiology*
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Autophagy/drug effects*
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Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism*
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Animals
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Rats
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Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/cytology*
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Cells, Cultured
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Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects*
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Sequestosome-1 Protein/genetics*
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Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase/metabolism*
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Microtubule-Associated Proteins/genetics*
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Sirolimus/pharmacology*
4.The role of polyunsaturated fatty acid lipid peroxidation in ferroptosis after intracerebral hemorrhage: a review of mecha-nisms and therapeutic implications.
Man GUO ; Guohui ZHAO ; Zhibiao CAI ; Zhenyu ZHANG ; Jie ZHOU
Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical sciences 2025;54(5):694-704
Ferroptosis, a regulated cell death process distinct from apoptosis, is characterized by iron dysregulation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. After intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), decreased cerebral blood flow and iron released from erythrocytes trigger lipid peroxidation-particularly of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)-through a cascade of reactions in local brain tissues, promoting ferroptosis. Mitochondrial dysfunction and neuroinflammation further elevate ROS, exacerbating lipid peroxidation and accelerating neuronal ferroptosis. Thus, PUFA peroxidation and associated metabolic pathways play a critical role in ICH-related neuronal damage. This review summarizes current understanding of how PUFA peroxidation contributes to ferro-ptosis after ICH, discusses key regulatory mechanisms involving lipid and iron metabolism, and highlights potential therapeutic strategies targeting ferroptosis to improve neurological outcomes.
Ferroptosis/physiology*
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Humans
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Cerebral Hemorrhage/pathology*
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Lipid Peroxidation
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Fatty Acids, Unsaturated/metabolism*
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Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism*
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Iron/metabolism*
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Animals
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Mitochondria/metabolism*
5.Ferroptosis and drug-induced liver injury.
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2023;31(4):345-348
Ferroptosis is a type of regulated cell death driven by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation that has received extensive attention in recent years. A growing body of evidence suggests that ferroptosis contributes to the progression of drug-induced liver injury. Therefore, the role and mechanism of ferroptosis in the process of drug-induced liver injury deserve further extensive and in-depth exploration, which will aid in the discovery of novel biomarkers as well as the identification of potential approches of targeting ferroptosis to intervene in drug-induced liver injury.
Humans
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Biomarkers/metabolism*
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Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury
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Ferroptosis
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Iron/metabolism*
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Lipid Peroxidation/physiology*
6.Resveratrol protects human sperm against cryopreservation-induced injury.
Shi-Jia LI ; Wei-Dong SU ; Li-Jun QIU ; Xiong WANG ; Juan LIU
National Journal of Andrology 2018;24(6):499-503
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of resveratrol in the cryopreservation medium on the quality and function of post-thaw sperm.
METHODSSemen samples were obtained from 50 normozoospermic and 50 oligoasthenozoospermic men, liquefied and then cryopreserved in the glycerol-egg yolk-citrate (GEYC) medium with or without 30 μmol/L resveratrol. Sperm motility, viability and acrosome reaction (AR) were examined before and after thawing. Sperm lipid peroxidation and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured using commercial malondialdehyde (MDA) and the ROS assay kit. Sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and DNA damage were determined by Rhodamine 123 staining and TUNEL.
RESULTSThe percentage of progressively motile sperm (PMS), total sperm motility, sperm viability, MMP and AR were significantly decreased (P <0.05) while the levels of sperm ROS, MDA and DNA fragmentation index (DFI) remarkably increased in both the normozoospermia and oligoasthenozoospermia groups after cryopreservation as compared with those in the fresh ejaculate (P <0.05). In comparison with the non-resveratrol control, the post-thaw sperm cryopreserved with 30 μmol/L resveratrol showed markedly higher PMS ([32.7 ± 4.8] vs [43.1 ± 6.3] %, P <0.05), total motility ([44.8 ± 6.9] vs [56.9 ± 7.4] %, P <0.05), viability ([52.3 ± 6.1] vs [67.5 ± 5.6] %, P <0.05), MMP ([56.5 ± 7.0] vs [63.4 ± 7.5] %, P <0.05) and AR ([16.6 ± 3.8] vs [26.3 ± 4.7] %, P <0.05) but lower ROS, MDA and DFI (all P <0.05) in the normozoospermia group, and so did the post-thaw sperm in the oligoasthenozoospermia group, with a particularly lower DFI ([28.5 ± 4.8] vs [36.3 ± 5.7]%, P <0.01).
CONCLUSIONSResveratrol in the cryopreservation medium can improve the quality and function of post-thaw human sperm by reducing cryopreservation-induced sperm injury and the level of ROS.
Acrosome ; drug effects ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Cryopreservation ; methods ; DNA Fragmentation ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; analysis ; Resveratrol ; pharmacology ; Semen Analysis ; Semen Preservation ; adverse effects ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; physiology
7.Therapeutic efficacy of classic Tibetan formulas combined at different hours in resisting cerebral ischemia.
Rui-ying LIU ; Jian GU ; Fu-kai HUANG ; Yao-yao REN ; Rui TAN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2015;40(13):2674-2678
The study focused on the therapeutic efficacy of Tibetan medicines on cerebral ischemia. The combined medication methods and administration habits in clinic for more than 10 years were simulated. Three typical Tibetan medicines, i.e., 25-Herb Shanhu pill, Wishful-Treasure pill and 20-Herb Chenxiang pill, were administered to the animal model of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion in the morning, noon and evening, respectively. On the second day after the final administration, the activity of serum oxidative stress marker SOD and the content of MDA were evaluated. Infarct volumes were quantified through TTC staining. Inflammatory reaction maker NF-kappaB p65 gene and apoptosis. makers Bax and Cyct were selected to study the molecular mechanism of combined herbs with the immunohistochemistry technique. According to the result, the respective combination of 25-Herb Shanhu pill, Wishful-Treasure pill and 20-Herb Chenxiang pill in the morning, noon and evening showed unique advantages in reducing the damage of oxidative stress, infarct volumes, encephaledema caused by ischemia, inflammatory factor aggregation and inhibiting apoptosis, with consistent therapeutic efficacies in clinic.
Animals
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Brain Ischemia
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drug therapy
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metabolism
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Lipid Peroxidation
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Male
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Medicine, Tibetan Traditional
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Rats
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Superoxide Dismutase
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metabolism
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Time Factors
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Transcription Factor RelA
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physiology
8.Treadmill exercise prevents diabetes-induced increases in lipid peroxidation and decreases in Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase levels in the hippocampus of Zucker diabetic fatty rats.
Jong Whi KIM ; Junghyun CHAE ; Sung Min NAM ; Yo Na KIM ; Dae Young YOO ; Jung Hoon CHOI ; Hyo Young JUNG ; Wook SONG ; In Koo HWANG ; Je Kyung SEONG ; Yeo Sung YOON
Journal of Veterinary Science 2015;16(1):11-16
In the present study, we investigated the effects of treadmill exercise on lipid peroxidation and Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) levels in the hippocampus of Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats and lean control rats (ZLC) during the onset of diabetes. At 7 weeks of age, ZLC and ZDF rats were either placed on a stationary treadmill or made to run for 1 h/day for 5 consecutive days at 16~22 m/min for 5 weeks. At 12 weeks of age, the ZDF rats had significantly higher blood glucose levels and body weight than the ZLC rats. In addition, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the hippocampus of the ZDF rats were significantly higher than those of the ZLC rats whereas SOD1 levels in the hippocampus of the ZDF rats were moderately decreased. Notably, treadmill exercise prevented the increase of blood glucose levels in ZDF rats. In addition, treadmill exercise significantly ameliorated changes in MDA and SOD1 levels in the hippocampus although SOD activity was not altered. These findings suggest that diabetes increases lipid peroxidation and decreases SOD1 levels, and treadmill exercise can mitigate diabetes-induced oxidative damage in the hippocampus.
Animals
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Diabetes Mellitus/enzymology/*metabolism
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Female
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Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
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Genotype
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Hippocampus/*enzymology/metabolism
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Lipid Peroxidation/*physiology
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Male
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Malondialdehyde/metabolism
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Physical Conditioning, Animal/*physiology
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Rats
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Rats, Zucker
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Superoxide Dismutase/genetics/*metabolism
9.The protective effects of ischemia preconditioning on the lung injury following with limbs ischemia/reperfusion.
You-Ling JING ; Yan-Lei WANG ; Guo-Xian DUAN ; Chun-Xiu ZHAO ; Guo-Jin CUI ; Shuo-Sen ZHANG ; Zhi-Peng WANG
Chinese Journal of Applied Physiology 2011;27(1):19-22
OBJECTIVETo explore the protective effects of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) on the lung injury following with limbs ischemia /reperfusion (LI/R).
METHODSThe models of LI/R injury were constructed in rabbits. The blood from right external jugular vein and left common carotid artery, into and out-flowing pulmonary blood (IPB, OPB) respectively. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) in IPB and OPB and lung tissues were measured, as well as total nitric oxide synthase (tNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in lung tissues were detected in different groups. The effects of IPC on the lung injury were observed.
RESULTSCompared with sham and before ischemic, the activity of SOD decreased and the content of MDA and NO increased after 4 h ischemia followed by 4 h reperfusion in IPB, OPB and lung tissues. The activity of tNOS and iNOS in lung tissues increased remarkably as well, there was statistical significance (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). SOD increased and MDA, NO, tNOS, iNOS decreased significantly by IPC before ischemia/reperfusion. The correlation analysis indicated that MDA was negatively correlated with SOD and was positively correlated with MDA, NO, iNOS (P < 0.01).
CONCLUSIONOxygen free radicals metabolic confusion of lung occurred in the course of LI/R, IPC could strengthen the resistance of peroxidation in lung and had protective effects on the lung injury following with LI/R.
Animals ; Extremities ; blood supply ; Female ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; methods ; Lipid Peroxidation ; physiology ; Lung Injury ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Reperfusion Injury ; physiopathology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism
10.Effects of hydrogen sulfide on myocardial mitochondrial injury during acute myocardial ischemia in rats.
Fang LIU ; Jian-Xin ZHANG ; Lan-Fang LI ; Qin-Zeng ZHANG ; Yan-Yan DING ; Xin-Yan ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Applied Physiology 2011;27(2):158-162
OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on mitochondrial function in acute myocardial ischemia in rats.
METHODSAcute myocardial ischemia models were established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery (LADC) of rats. Fourty-eight male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 8): sham operation group, ischemia group, ischemia + sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) low, middle and high dose groups and ischemia + DL-proparglycine(PPG) group. The ultrastructures of myocardial mitochondria were observed with electron microscope. The content of H2S in plasma and the activity of cystathionine-gamma-lyase (CSE) in myocardial tissue of rats were respectively detected. The swelling and activity of myocardial mitochondria were determined. The activities of ATPase, GSH-Px, SOD and the content of malondial-dehyde (MDA) in myocardial mitochondria of rats were also measured.
RESULTSCompared with those of the sham operation group, the content of H2S in plasma, the activity of CSE in myocardial tissue and the activity of myocardium mitochondria were significantly decreased. The activities of ATPase, SOD, GSH-Px in myocardial mitochondria were significantly decreased, The content of malondial dehyde(MDA) in myocardial mitochondria and the swelling of mitochondria were distinctly increased in the ischemia group (P < 0.01). Compared with those of the ischemia group, the content of H2S in plasma and the activity of CSE in myocardial tissue were increased, and the activities of mitochondria, ATPase, SOD, and GSH-Px in myocardial mitochondria were significantly increased in ischemia + NaHS low, middle and high-dose groups; the swelling of mitochondria and the content of MDA in myocardial mitochondria were significantly decreased in ischemia + NaHS middle and high-dose groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The administration of PPG could partially reduce the myocardial protection of hydrogen sulfide (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).
CONCLUSIONIt could be concluded that the administration of hydrogen sulfide could enhance the activities of mitochondrial ATPase, SOD, GSH-Px, decrease the level of mitochondrial lipid peroxidation, and play a protective effect against acute myocardial ischemia.
Adenosine Triphosphatases ; metabolism ; Animals ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; pharmacology ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Mitochondria, Heart ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Myocardial Ischemia ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

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