The quantitation of intracellular sodium ion concentration [Na+]in perfused organs using NMR spectroscopy requires a knowledge of the extent of visibility of the 23Na resonance and of the intracellular volume of the organ. We have used a multinuclear NMR approach, in combination with the extracellular shift reagent dysprosium (III) tripolyphosphate, to determine the NMR visibility of intra- and...

OBJECTIVE In heart transplantation a well-preserved myocardial ultrastructure is an important precondition for functional regeneration. Aim of the study is to optimize the conditions in this new established model of extracorporeal cardiac perfusion. METHODS (I) In six pigs, hearts were arrested with Bretschneider Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate cardioplegia and cold ischemia, explanted and...

We have recently shown that sulindac, an anti-inflammatory drug, enhances the killing of cancer cells, but not normal cells, under conditions of oxidative stress, by mechanisms unrelated to its cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition. To further study the protective effect of sulindac on cells exposed to oxidative stress, we have investigated the effect of sulindac on rat cardiac myocytes subjected to ...

Myocardial hypertrophy decreases the muscle mass-to-vascularization ratio, thereby changing myocardial perfusion. The effect of these changes on myocardial oxygenation in hypertrophic Langendorff-perfused rat hearts was measured using epimyocardial NADH videofluorimetry, whereby ischemic myocardium displays a high fluorescence intensity. Hypertrophic hearts, in contrast to control hearts, devel...

BACKGROUND Informations about the effects of intense exercise training on diabetes-induced myocardial dysfunctions are lacking. We have examined the effects of intense exercise training on the cardiac function of diabetic rats, especially focusing on the Langendorff β-adrenergic responsiveness and on the β-adrenoceptors protein expression. METHODS Control or Streptozotocin induced-diabetic ma...

Since its introduction in the late 19(th) century, the Langendorff isolated heart perfusion apparatus, and the subsequent development of the working heart model, have been invaluable tools for studying cardiovascular function and disease(1-15). Although the Langendorff heart preparation can be used for any mammalian heart, most studies involving this apparatus use small animal models (e.g., mou...