C57BL/6 mice were fed 18% ethanol (vol/vol) in drinking water for 12 wk. Isovolumic hearts were subjected to 20 min of ischemia and 30 min of reperfusion on a Langendorff apparatus. There were no differences in baseline hemodynamic function between hearts from ethanol (EtOH)-fed mice and controls. However, prior alcohol consumption doubled recovery of left ventricular developed pressure (68 ± 8 vs. 33 ± 8 mmHg for controls; n = 10, P < 0.05) and reduced creatine kinase release by half (0.26 ± 0.04 vs. 0.51 ± 0.08 U · min−1 · g wet wt−1 for controls; n = 10, P < 0.05). EtOH feeding doubled expression of activated protein kinase C epsilon (PKC)ε ( n = 6, P < 0.05); whereas PKC inhibition blocked protection during ischemia-reperfusion. EtOH feeding also increased expression of Akt three- to fivefold ( n = 6, P < 0.05), whereas PKC inhibition prevented increases in Akt kinase activity. We conclude that signaling pathways involving PKC-ε are critical for sustained EtOH-mediated cardioprotection and that Akt may be a downstream effector of resistance to myocardial reperfusion injury.

The cardioprotective effectiveness of low-dose pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ, 3 mg/kg) was compared with metoprolol, a beta(1)-selective adrenoceptor antagonist. Rats underwent 30 minutes of left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion and 2 hours of reperfusion. Metoprolol and/or PQQ were given at the onset of reperfusion to mimic clinical treatment. Metoprolol and/or PQQ reduced infarct size and protected against ischemia-induced left ventricular dysfunction after 2 hours of reperfusion. Combined therapy augmented left ventricular developed pressure at the end of reperfusion. Metoprolol or PQQ alone enhanced mitochondrial respiratory ratios in ischemic and nonischemic myocardium. Although the PQQ/metoprolol combination therapy increased respiratory ratio values, the effects were small when compared with PQQ alone. Only PQQ decreased lipid peroxidation. Metoprolol and/or PQQ given at the onset of reperfusion reduce infarct size and improve cardiac function. Combination therapy further reduces infarct size. PQQ is superior to metoprolol in protecting mitochondria from ischemia/reperfusion oxidative damage.

The multi-subunit mammalian NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) is part of the mitochondrial electron transport chain and physiologically serves to reduce ubiquinone with NADH as the electron donor. The three-dimensional structure of this enzyme complex remains to be elucidated and also little is known about the physiological regulation of complex I. The enzyme complex in vitro is known to exist as a mixture of active (A) and de-active (D) forms [Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1364 (1998) 169]. Studies are reported here examining the effect of anoxia and reperfusion on the A/D-equilibrium of complex I in rat hearts ex vivo. Complex I from the freshly isolated rat heart or after prolonged (1 h) normoxic perfusion exists in almost fully active form (87+/-2%). Either 30 min of nitrogen perfusion or global ischemia decreases the portion of active form of complex I to 40+/-2%. Upon re-oxygenation of cardiac tissue, complex I is converted back predominantly to the active form (80-85%). Abrupt alternation of anoxic and normoxic perfusion allows cycling between the two states of the enzyme. The possible role in the physiological regulation of complex I activity is discussed.