Objectives: The protective effect of the vascular RNase1 on cardiovascular diseases like ischemia-reperfusion
injury (IRI), atherosclerosis and thrombotic events has been proven. Knowing that
remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) can increase the intrinsic RNase level and
that medication-induced preconditioning (MIPC) is also a powerful model for cardio-protection,
we examined the influence of RIPC and MIPC on vascular extracellular RNA- (eRNA),
and RNase-levels in rats and compared their effects in a Langendorff ischemia/reperfusion
model.
Methods: In 17 male Lewis rats, RIPC or MIPC were performed under general anesthesia with
isoflurane and buprenorphine. 5 rats did not receive RIPC or MIPC (non-MIPC group)
serving as a control. After preconditioning, eRNA plasma levels and RNase activity
were determined, and the hearts were inserted in a Langendorff ischemia -reperfusion
model. Hemodynamic (left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), coronary flow (CF)),
metabolic (oxygen consumption, lactate production) and electron-microscopical (cellular
edema index (CEI), volume-to-surface ratio of mitochondria (V/S-ratio(mi)) parameters
were recorded and calculated. Further, MIPC with one anesthetic drug only (either
isoflurane, buprenorphine or etomidate) was induced in male Wistar rats (n = 5). After 30 minute, eRNA levels and RNase activity were determined.
Results: The plasma of RIPC-treated rats showed significantly higher RNase activity and lower
eRNA levels than MIPC-treated rats. RIPC-treated rats showed also a significantly
higher RNase activity than rats treated with one drug alone (isoflurane, buprenorphine
and etomidate). Between these MIPC-groups, the RNase activity and eRNA levels differed
appreciably. MIPC (isoflurane + buprenorphine), in comparison to non-MIPC, was superior
to preserve the LVDP and the CF after cardiac ischemia. Accordingly, RIPC-treated
hearts had significantly elevated LVDP and CF values after ischemia, compared with
non-MIPC hearts. No obvious, differences were noted between MIPC and RIPC rat hearts
regarding hemodynamics, metabolism or electron-microscopic parameters.
Conclusions: RIPC in rats did not show functional or metabolic advantage compared with MIPC in
the Langendorff ischemia/reperfusion model. MIPC with isoflurane and buprenorphine
lead to functional preservation of the heart compared with non-MIPC, and it appears
most likely that RIPC does not bear any additional cardio-protective benefit in this
experimental system.