Journal of molecular and cellular cardiology
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J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol. · Dec 2005
Trimetazidine inhibits mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening and prevents lethal ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Trimetazidine (TMZ) affects mitochondrial function during ischemia. Mitochondrial permeability transition is a pivotal event in cardiomyocyte death following acute ischemia. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the anti-ischemic agent TMZ might modulate mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening and limit lethal ischemia-reperfusion injury. ⋯ In controls, Ca(2+) load required for mPTP opening averaged 11 +/- 4 microM mg(-1) mitochondrial protein versus 116 +/- 6 in shams (P<0.0001). Pre-treatment by TMZ or PC attenuated this, with Ca(2+) loads averaging 45 +/- 4 and 46 +/- 4 microM mg(-1) mitochondrial proteins, respectively (P<0.005 versus C). These data suggest that TMZ inhibits mPTP opening and protects the rabbit heart from prolonged ischemia-reperfusion injury.