brief episode of ischemia -reperfusion reduces the size of the infarct caused by a subsequent longer ischemia -reperfusion insult. This phenomenon was first reported by Murry et al 1 and termed ischemic preconditioning (IP). The underlying mechanism of this phenomenon has been intensively investigated and one of the crucial mechanisms is the opening of the mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium (mito-KATP) channels. [2][3][4] In order to mimic IP, the effect of mito-KATP channel openers has been investigated and these agents result in reduction of infarct size. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] However, the effect of IP and mito-KATP channel openers on chronic left ventricular (LV) remodeling has not been clarified yet. LV remodeling is a major determinant of prognosis after myocardial infarction 13 and it may be determined by the infarct size and could be modified by drugs such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. 14 Thus, assessing LV remodeling is an important evaluation of whether or not interventions such as IP or mito-KATP channel openers are really effective. Furthermore, the reperfusion conditions, such as the no reflow phenomenon, may modify the infarct size and thus the LV remodeling in the chronic state. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of IP and mito-KATP channel openers on the extent of LV remodeling as assessed by the pressure -volume relationship, and to assess the correlation between infarct size and LV remodelCirculation Journal Vol.66, April 2002 ing during the chronic stage.
MethodsAll experiments were performed in accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NIH Publication No. 85-23) and were approved by the Animal Research Committee of Yamaguchi University School of Medicine.
Surgical PreparationMale Sprague-Dawley rats (280-330 g) were anesthetized by intraperitoneal injection of sodium pentobarbital (60 mg/kg). Additional anesthesia was given during the experiment as required. After tracheal intubation, the rats were ventilated with a mixture of room air and 100% oxygen (respiratory rate, 65-70 breaths/min). After a thoracotomy in the fourth intercostal space, the heart was exposed and a thread was passed around the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) to occlude it. After 3 weeks of reperfusion, LV pressure (LVP) was measured by a 2F catheter-tip micromanometer (Model SPC-320, Millar Instruments, USA) inserted via the right carotid artery. The peak of the first derivative of LVP (+dP/dt) and the time constant of isovolumetric LVP decay (Tau) were calculated by an online data acquisition system (CODAS, DATAQ Instruments, Achron, OH, USA). The body temparature was maintained at 37±0.3°C by a heating pad.
ReagentsDiazoxide (Funakoshi, Osaka, Japan) was dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), the final concentration of which was less than 0.1%. Nicorandil (Chugai, Tokyo, Japan) was dissolved in saline at a concentration of 1.0 J 2002; 66: 411 -415 (Received October 26, 2001; revised manuscript received December ...