Possible role of cyclic nucleotides in the mechanism of the protective effect of methylprednisolone on the hypoxic heart

R. W. Busuttil, R. M. Graeff, W. J. George

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

The isolated isovolumic rat heart was used as a model of cardiac hypoxia. Force of cardiac contraction and cardiac cyclic nucleotide levels (cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP) were monitored in hearts subjected to hypoxia for 5 min and allowed to recover by reoxygenation. Hearts were obtained from both control animals and animals pretreated with methylprednisolone at 18 hr and 1 hr prior to sacrifice. Myocardial levels of cyclic GMP which were significantly (p <0.05) elevated above control during all periods of hypoxia were found to be lower when hearts were pretreated with methylprednisolone prior to hypoxic exposure. Hearts of animals pretreated with methylprednisolone also demonstrated better recovery during reoxygenation than did control hearts. These studies suggest that methylprednisolone may be beneficial in the prevention of myocardial failure following hypoxia via a modulation in myocardial cyclic GMP content.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)209-218
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Cyclic Nucleotide Research
Volume4
Issue number3
StatePublished - 1978

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