Cardiovascular research
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Cardiovascular research · Nov 1998
Potential paracrine role of the pericardium in the regulation of cardiac function.
Both coronary and endocardial endothelium regulate cardiac contractile function via paracrine pathways. We investigated whether pericardial fluid (PF) and pericardial mesothelial cells (PMC) could exert a similar paracrine action. ⋯ In addition to its mechanical role, the pericardium may contribute to the integration and the regulation of cardiovascular function via a paracrine mechanism.
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Cardiovascular research · Nov 1998
Hydrogen peroxide induced impairment of post-ischemic ventricular function is prevented by the sodium-hydrogen exchange inhibitor HOE 642 (cariporide).
Sodium-hydrogen exchange (NHE) activation is a major mechanism of cardiac injury produced by ischemia and reperfusion. In addition, NHE may mediate the direct effects of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in normally perfused hearts. The present study was done to determine whether H2O2 at low concentrations producing mild myocardial depression affects post-ischemic recovery of function and to determine the ability of the NHE inhibitor HOE 642 to modulate this effect. ⋯ Our results show that very low concentrations of H2O2 significantly impair recovery of function in this rat model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion. Moreover, our results suggest that this effect is likely dependent on NHE activity and can be prevented by treatment with the NHE inhibitor HOE 642.