Bilateral sympathectomy effectively attenuated left ventricular remodeling and preserved systolic function after myocardial infarction induction in rats.

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The viability of donor organs is reduced by hemodynamic and immunologic alterations caused by brain death (BD). Female rats show higher heart inflammation associated with the reduction in female sex hormones after BD. This study investigated the effect of 17b-estradiol (E2) on BD-induced cardiac damage in female rats. Groups of female Wistar rats were assigned: Sham-operation (Sham), brain death (BD), treatment with E2 (50 lg/ml, 2 ml/h) 3 h after BD (E2-T3), or immediately after BD confirmation (E2-T0). White blood cell (WBC) count was analyzed; cytokines and troponin-I were quantified. Heart histopathological changes and expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, endothelin-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, BCL-2, and caspase-3 were evaluated. Cardiac function was continuously assessed for 6 h by left ventricular pressure-volume loop analysis. E2 decreased the BD-induced median serum concentration of troponin-I (BD:864.2 vs. E2-T0:401.4; P = 0.009), increased BCL-2 (BD:0.086 vs. E2-T0:0.158; P = 0.0278) and eNOS median expression in the cardiac tissue (BD:0.001 vs. E2-T0:0.03 and E2-T3:0.0175; P < 0.0001), and decreased caspase-3 (BD:0.025 vs. E2-T0:0.006 and E2-T3:0.019; P = 0.006), WBC counts, leukocyte infiltration, and hemorrhage. 17b-estradiol treatment was effective in reducing cardiac tissue damage in brain-dead female rats owing to its ability to reduce leukocyte infiltration and prevent cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

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Objective: Brain death (BD) triggers important hemodynamic and inflammatory alterations, compromising the viability of organs suitable for transplantation. To better understand the microcirculatory alterations in donor lungs caused by BD. The present study investigated the pulmonary microcirculation in a rodent model of BD via intravital microscopy. Methods: Male Wistar rats were anaesthetized and mechanically ventilated. They were trepanned and BD was induced through the increase in intracranial pressure. As control group, sham-operated (SH) rats were trepanned only. In both groups, expiratory O 2 and CO 2 were monitored and after three hours, a thoracotomy was performed, and a window was created to observe the lung surface using an epi-fluorescence intravital microscopy. Lung expression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and cytokines were measured in lung samples. Results: Three hours after the surgical procedures, pulmonary perfusion was 73% in the SH group. On the other hand, BD animals showed an important decrease in organ perfusion to 28% (p = 0.036). Lung microcirculatory compromise after BD induction was associated with an augmentation of the number of leukocytes recruited to lung tissue, and with a reduction in eNOS expression and an increase in ICAM-1 expression on lung endothelial cells. BD rats showed higher values of expiratory O 2 and lower values of CO 2 in comparison with SH animals after three hours of monitoring. Conclusion: Data presented showed that BD triggers an important hypoperfusion and inflammation in the lungs, compromising the donor pulmonary microcirculation.