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Ovariectomy Reinstates the Infarct Size-Limiting Effect of Postconditioning in Female Rabbits

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Abstract

Gender seems to interfere with the cardioprotective effect of ischemic preconditioning (PreC) and postconditioning (PostC); PreC-conferred protection is weaker or lost in female animals after ovariectomy (Ov), while the role of PostC is still in dispute. We sought to investigate the effect of PostC in female rabbits, its interaction with Ov, and the potential implicated intracellular pathways. Intact or Ov adult female rabbits (n = 46) were subjected to 30 min ischemia and reperfusion with PostC (PostC or OvPostC), which consisted of six cycles of 30-s ischemia/30-s reperfusion at the end of ischemia, or without PostC (Fem or OvFem). Infarct size (I) and area at risk (R) were determined by TTC staining and fluorescent particles, respectively, after 3-h reperfusion in 30 out of 46 animals. Plasma levels of estradiol and nitrite/nitrate (NO x ) were evaluated. ERKs, p38-MAPK, and Akt assessment was performed in excised hearts 1-min after starting the final reperfusion period in the remaining 16 animals. Infarct size was significantly reduced only in OvPostC group (I/R ratio, 25.3 ± 2.7, vs 48.1 ± 2.0, 43.6 ± 4.2 and 55.1 ± 5.6 % in Fem, OvFem, and PostC groups, p < 0.05). In ovariectomized rabbits, plasma estradiol and NO x levels were lower than in the normal ones. Akt phosphorylation in ischemic regions was significantly higher in OvPostC group, whereas ERK1/2 and p38-MAPK activation was observed in all ovariectomized animals irrespective of PostC. PostC is not effective in female rabbits, but the protection is reinstated after Ov potentially via the RISK pathway.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Second Department of Cardiology, Medical School, University of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Eftychia Demerouti, Anastasia Zoga, Maria Anastasiou-Nana, Dimitrios Th. Kremastinos & Efstathios K. Iliodromitis

  2. Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece

    Ioanna Andreadou

  3. Department of Animal and Human Physiology, School of Biology, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Ioanna-Katerina Aggeli, Catherine Gaitanaki & Isidoros Beis

  4. First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Athens Medical School, Laiko Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Dimitrios Farmakis

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  1. Eftychia Demerouti
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Demerouti, E., Andreadou, I., Aggeli, IK. et al. Ovariectomy Reinstates the Infarct Size-Limiting Effect of Postconditioning in Female Rabbits. Cell Biochem Biophys 65, 373–380 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12013-012-9441-3

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