Resumo Fundamento: O núcleo do trato solitário (NTS) é uma área do cérebro que desempenha um papel fundamental na regulação renal e cardiovascular através dos impulsos dos barorreceptores. Objetivos: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da Naringina (NAR) e trimetazidina (TMZ), isoladamente e combinadas, na atividade elétrica do NTS e na sensibilidade barorreflexa (SBR) na lesão de isquemia e reperfusão (I/R) renal. Métodos: Foram utilizados quarenta ratos machos Sprague-Dawley (200-250 g), alocados em 5 grupos com 8 ratos cada. Grupos: 1) Sham; 2) I/R; 3) TMZ 5 mg/kg; 4) NAR 100 mg/kg; e 5) TMZ5 + NAR100. A veia femoral esquerda foi canulada para infundir a solução salina ou droga e avaliar a SBR. A I/R foi induzida por oclusão dos pedículos renais por 45 min, seguida de reperfusão de 4 horas. O eletroencefalograma local do NTS foi registrado antes, durante a isquemia e durante a reperfusão. A fenilefrina foi injetada por via intravenosa para avaliar a SBR ao final do tempo de reperfusão. Os dados foram analisados por ANOVA de duas vias com medidas repetidas seguida pelo teste post hoc de Tukey. Um valor de p<0,05 foi considerado como significativo. Resultados: As ondas elétricas do NTS não se alteraram durante o tempo de isquemia, mas diminuíram significativamente durante todos os tempos de reperfusão. A atividade elétrica do NTS e a SBR foram reduzidas drasticamente em ratos com lesão I/R; no entanto, a administração de NAR e TMZ, isoladamente e combinadas, melhorou significativamente essas alterações em ratos com lesão I/R. Conclusões: Os resultados mostraram que a lesão de I/R leva à redução da atividade elétrica da SBR e do NTS, e pode haver uma ligação entre a I/R e a diminuição da SBR. Além disso, a NAR e a TMZ são agentes promissores para tratar complicações de I/R.

Abstract Background: Nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) is a brain area that plays a key role in kidney and cardiovascular regulation via baroreceptors impulses. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of naringin (NAR) and trimetazidine (TMZ) alone and their combination on NTS electrical activity and baroreceptor sensitivity (BRS) in renal ischemia- reperfusion (I/R) injury. Methods: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats (200- 250 g) were allocated into 5 groups with 8 in each. 1) Sham; 2) I/R; 3) TMZ 5 mg/kg; 4) NAR 100 mg/kg; and 5) TMZ5+ NAR100. The left femoral vein was cannulated to infuse saline solution or drug and the BRS was evaluated. I/R was induced by occlusion of renal pedicles for 45 min, followed by 4 hours of reperfusion. The NTS local electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded before, during ischemia and throughout the reperfusion. Phenylephrine was injected intravenously to evaluate BRS at the end of reperfusion time. The data were analyzed by two-way repeated measurement ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: NTS electrical waves did not change during ischemia time, while they significantly decreased during the entire reperfusion time. NTS electrical activity and BRS dramatically reduced in rats with I/R injury; however, administration of NAR, TMZ alone or their combination significantly improved these changes in rats with I/R injury. Conclusions: The results showed that I/R injury leads to reduced BRS and NTS electrical activity and there may be an association between I/R and decreased BRS. In addition, NAR and TMZ are promising agents to treat I/R complications.

Resumo Fundamento: A trimetazidina (TMZ) é uma droga anti-isquêmica. Apesar de seus efeitos protetores sobre o sistema cardiovascular, não há estudos científicos sobre a utilidade do tratamento com TMZ para o intervalo QT prolongado e a hipertrofia cardíaca induzida pelo diabetes. Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos da TMZ no prolongamento do intervalo QT e na hipertrofia cardíaca em ratos diabéticos. Métodos: Vinte e quatro ratos machos Sprague-Dawley (200-250 g) foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em três grupos (n = 8) pelo método de amostragem aleatória simples. Controle (C), diabético (D) e diabético administrado com TMZ a 10 mg/kg (T10). A TMZ foi administrada por 8 semanas. O ecocardiograma foi registrado antes de isolar os corações e transferir para um aparelho de Langendorff. Foram medidos os parâmetros hemodinâmicos, intervalo QT e intervalo QT corrigido (QTc), frequência cardíaca e enzimas antioxidantes. O índice de hipertrofia foi calculado. Os resultados foram avaliados pelo one-way ANOVA e pelo teste t pareado pelo SPSS (versão 16) e p < 0,05 foi considerado significativo. Resultados: Os ratos diabéticos indicaram hipertrofia aumentada, intervalos QT e QTc e diminuição da pressão sistólica no ventrículo esquerdo (PSVE), pressão desenvolvida no ventrículo esquerdo (PDVE), duplo produto (DP), Max dp/dt e min dp/dt (± dp/dt max), frequência cardíaca, superóxido dismutase (SOD), glutationa peroxidase (GPx) e catalase no coração. O tratamento com TMZ nos animais diabéticos melhorou significativamente esses parâmetros em comparação com o grupo diabético não tratado. Conclusões: A TMZ melhora o prolongamento do intervalo QTc e a hipertrofia cardíaca no diabetes.

Abstract Background: Trimetazidine (TMZ) is an anti-ischemic drug. In spite of its protective effects on cardiovascular system, there is no scientific study on the usefulness of TMZ treatment for prolonged QT interval and cardiac hypertrophy induced by diabetes. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of TMZ on QT interval prolongation and cardiac hypertrophy in the diabetic rats. Methods: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g) were randomly assigned into three groups (n = 8) by simple random sampling method. Control (C), diabetic (D), and diabetic administrated with TMZ at 10 mg/kg (T10). TMZ was administrated for 8 weeks. The echocardiogram was recorded before isolating the hearts and transfer to a Langendorff apparatus. Hemodynamic parameters, QT and corrected QT interval (QTc) intervals, heart rate and antioxidant enzymes were measured. The hypertrophy index was calculated. The results were evaluated by one-way ANOVA and paired t-test using SPSS (version 16) and p < 0.05 was regarded as significant. Results: The diabetic rats significantly indicated increased hypertrophy, QT and QTc intervals and decreased Left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), Left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), rate pressure product (RPP), Max dp/dt, and min dp/dt (±dp/dt max), heart rate, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase in the heart. Treatment with TMZ in the diabetic animals was significantly improved these parameters in comparison to the untreated diabetic group. Conclusions: TMZ improves QTc interval prolongation and cardiac hypertrophy in diabetes.

Resumo Fundamento: Embora muitas pesquisas tenham sido conduzidas com um determinado antioxidante ou mPTP individualmente, pouca atenção tem sido dada para os efeitos da co-administração de um antioxidante e um inibidor de mPTP sobre a disfunção cardíaca após a lesão de I/R. Objetivos: Este estudo objetiva determinar os efeitos do ácido gálico (como antioxidante) combinado com a ciclosporina A (CsA) (como inibidor de mPTP) na função cardíaca e endotelial na disfunção induzida por I/R (função de NO). Métodos: Ratos Wistar machos foram pré-tratados com ácido gálico (7,5, 15 ou 30 mg.kg-1 de peso corporal, diariamente) por um período de 10 dias. Em seguida, o coração foi isolado e exposto a isquemia de 30 minutos e perfundido por CsA (0,2 µM) 20 min durante o período de reperfusão. Resultados: Os dados mostraram que o tamanho do infarto foi significativamente diminuído por CsA e ácido gálico sozinho (p < 0,05, ANOVA unidirecional seguido de teste LSD). A combinação de ambos os fármacos, entretanto, apresentou efeitos de melhora mais significativos (p < 0,001). A combinação destes dois fármacos melhorou mais significativamente a taxa máxima de aumento e de queda da pressão ventricular (± dp.dt-1 máx), o duplo produto (DP), a pressão ventricular esquerda desenvolvida (PVED), a frequência cardíaca e o fluxo coronário quando comparada à aplicação de apenas um deles (p < 0,05, medidas repetidas ANOVA seguidas de teste de LSD). Conclusões: Em conclusão, o benefício de um antioxidante concomitante com um inibidor da mPTP poderia ter efeitos mais benéficos sobre a disfunção cardíaca induzida pela lesão I/R.

Abstract Background: Although many researches have been conducted on either a certain antioxidant or mPTP individually, little attention has been drawn to the effects of co-administration of an antioxidant and mPTP inhibitor together on cardiac dysfunction after I/R injury. Objectives: This study aims at determining the effects of gallic acid (as Antioxidant) combined with cyclosporine A (CsA) (as mPTP inhibitor) on I/R induced cardiac and endothelial (role of NO) dysfunction. Methods: Male Wistar rats were pretreated with gallic acid (7.5, 15, or 30 mg.kg-1 body weight, daily) for a period of 10 days. Then, the heart was isolated and exposed to 30-minute ischemia and perfused by CsA (0.2 µM) 20 min during reperfusion period. Results: The data have shown that infarct size was decreased significantly by CsA and gallic acid alone (p < 0.05, one way ANOVA followed by LSD test), however the combination of both drugs had more significant improving effects (p < 0.001). The combination of these two drugs improved more significantly maximum rate of rise and fall of ventricular pressure (±dp.dt-1 max), rate pressure product (RPP), left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), heart rate and coronary flow rather than applying each one alone (p < 0.05, repeated measurement ANOVA followed by LSD test). Conclusions: In conclusion, benefiting from an antioxidant concomitant with an mPTP inhibitor could have more improving effects on the cardiac dysfunction induced by I/R injury.

ABSTRACT Cerebral ischemia commonly occurs when the blood flow to the entire brain or some part of the brain is disrupted. Global cerebral ischemia attenuates the nucleus tractus solitaries (NTS) EEG rhythm, increases the free radicals production and brain inflammation. Ellagic acid (EA) has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects against neural damages. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of ellagic acid on EEG power in the global cerebral ischemia.Rats were divided into four groups: SO (sham) received normal saline, EA+SO, I/R (normal saline + ischemia/reperfusion), and EA + I/R. EA (100 mg/kg, dissolved in normal saline) or normal saline was administered orally (gavage) for 10 days. Animal underwent to 20 minutes of ischemia followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion in I/R and I/R+EA groups. EEG was recorded from NTS and serum antioxidant enzyme activity was measured.Data showed that ellagic acid improved electrical power of NTS. Theta and delta bands frequencies in the ischemic animals were decreased in I/R group with compared to SO group significantly (P<0.001). Ellagic acid has beneficial effect on superoxide dismutase activity in the ischemic animals with compared to I/R group (P<0.01). In contrast, ellagic acid has no significant role on glutathione peroxidase activity in the pretreated ischemic rats in comparison with I/R group.These findings suggest that ellagic acid increased antioxidant enzymes activity that scavenge the ROS due to ischemia so that it may have neuroprotective effect on NTS neurons and consequently reverse its electrophysiology pattern.

ABSTRACT Epidemiological studies show that particulate matter (PM) is the principal instigator of some adverse clinical symptoms involving cardiovascular diseases. PM exposure can increase experimental infarct size and potentiate myocardial ischemia and arrhythmias in experimental MI models such as ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury.The present study was aimed to evaluate the effects of particulate matter (PM10) on ischemia- reperfusion induced arrhythmias with emphasis on the protective role of VA as an antioxidant on them. Male Wistar rats were divided into 8 groups (n=10): Control, VAc, Sham, VA, PM1 (0.5 mg/kg), PM2 (2.5 mg/kg), PM3 group (5 mg/kg), PM3 + VA group. Within 48 hours, PM10 was instilled into trachea in two stages. Then the hearts were isolated, transferred to a Langendorff apparatus, and subjected to global ischemia (30 minutes) followed by reperfusion (60 minutes). The ischemia- reperfusion induced ventricular arrhythmias were assessed according to the Lambeth conventions.In the present study,the number, incidence and duration of arrhythmiasduring30 minutes ischemia were demonstrated to be more than those in the reperfusion stage. PM exposure increased significantly the number, incidence and duration of arrhythmias in the ischemia and reperfusion duration. Vanillic acid reduced significantly the number, incidence and duration of arrhythmias during the ischemia and reperfusion period.In summary, the results of this study demonstrated that the protective and dysrhythmic effects of VA in the PM exposure rats in I/R model are probably related to its antioxidant properties.

Atherosclerosis is one of the common disorders among hypothyroidism, which, increased the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Reactive oxygen species are associated with atherosclerosis development. Antioxidant defense systems are the scavenger for free radicals. Apelin is an endogenous ligand for the APJ receptor (apelin receptor) that exists in most tissues, acts as an adiponectin. It has been identified that apelin administration, improve the antioxidant capacity (TAC). Therefore, this study was conducted to assess, therapeutic effects of apelin, T4 (L-Thyroxin) or both on antioxidant capacity in 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU)-induced hypothyroid rats. Forty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into five groups: C: control group; P group (hypothyroid): PTU (0.05 %) administration for six weeks; P+A, P+T and P+A+T groups: after 4 weeks of PTU administration, animals treated with Apelin (200 μg/kg/day, ip) T4 (0.02 µg/g/day, gavage) and apelin+T4; for two weeks respectively accompanied by PTU administration. Aplein administration in P+A group and P+A+T group had beneficial effect to lowering of malondialdehyde (MDA) content as compared to hypothyroid group (8.52±0.64 and 8.53±1 vs. 13.67±1.64 nmol/g tissue, P<0.05) and also had increasing effect on Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathion peroxidase (GPx) activity and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) content compared to the hypothyroid group. This study showed that apelin was able to improve the oxidant-antioxidant balance in the heart tissue of the hypothyroid rats by elevating of antioxidant enzyme activity.

ResumoFundamento:O sistema cardiovascular é um dos alvos mais importantes dos hormônios tireoidianos. As seguintes alterações hemodinâmicas foram observadas em pacientes com hipotireoidismo: redução da frequência cardíaca (FC) de repouso, da contratilidade miocárdica e do débito cardíaco; e aumento da pressão diastólica e da resistência vascular sistêmica. Além disso, tais pacientes apresentam alterações eletrocardiográficas, como bradicardia sinusal e baixa voltagem dos complexos (ondas P e complexos QRS).Objetivo:Avaliar o efeito profilático da apelina nas alterações de FC e voltagem de QRS que ocorrem em ratos com hipotireoidismo induzido por propiltiouracil (PTU).Método:Este estudo dividiu de maneira aleatória 48 ratos Wistar machos adultos, pesando 170-235g, em seis grupos: grupo controle (CO), injeção intraperitoneal (ip) de solução salina + água potável gavagem; grupo hipotireoideo (P), PTU 0,05% em água potável; grupo A, apelina ip (200 µg.kg-1.dia-1); grupo PA, coadministração de PTU e apelina; grupo PT, coadministração de PTU e T4, 0.2 mg/g por dia por gavagem; e grupo PAT, coadministração de PTU, apelina e T4. Todos os experimentos foram realizados durante 28 dias consecutivos, sendo então os animais anestesiados com injeção ip de cetamina (80 mg/kg) e xilazina (12 mg/kg). Utilizou-se o registro do ECG na derivação DII para calcular a FC e a voltagem do QRS.Resultados:Houve aumento mais significativo da FC e da voltagem do QRS no grupo hipotireoideo que recebeu apelina e T4 (201±4 bpm, 0,71±0,02mV) do que no hipotireoideo (145±9 bpm, 0,563±0,015 mV), respectivamente.Conclusão:A coadministração de apelina e T4 mostrou efeito protetor na voltagem do QRS e FC em ratos com hipotireoidismo induzido por PTU.

AbstractBackground:One of the most important thyroid hormone targets is the cardiovascular system. Hemodynamic changes, such as decreased resting heart rate (HR), myocardial contractility, and cardiac output, and increased diastolic pressure and systemic vascular resistance, have been observed in hypothyroid patients. Moreover, in these patients, ECG changes include sinus bradycardia and low voltage complexes (P waves or QRS complexes).Objective:This study aimed at evaluating the prophylactic effect of apelin on HR changes and QRS voltage that occur in propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced hypothyroid rats.Method:In this study, 48 adult male Wistar rats weighing 170-235g were randomly divided into 6 groups: Control group (normal saline ip injection + tap water gavage); P group (PTU 0.05%, in drinking water); A group (apelin 200 µg.kg-1.day-1, ip); PA group [co-administration of PTU and apelin]; PT group [co-administration of PTU + T4 (0.2 mg/g per day, gavage)]; and PAT group (co-administration of PTU, apelin and T4). All experiments were performed for 28 consecutive days, and then the animals were anesthetized with an ip injection of ketamine (80 mg/kg) and xylazine (12 mg/kg). Lead II electrocardiogram was recorded to calculate HR and QRS voltage.Results:Heart rate and QRS voltage increased more significantly in the hypothyroid group that consumed both apelin and T4 (201 ± 4 beat/min, 0.71 ± 0.02 mv vs. hypothyroid 145 ± 9 beat/min, 0.563 ± 0.015 mv; respectively).Conclusion:The co-administration of apelin and T4 showed a protective effect on QRS voltage and HR in PTU‑induced hypothyroid rats.