Endothelin-3-induced microvascular incompetence and mitochondrial damage in rat myocardium.
1. To determine the possible role of an endothelin in the development of postischaemic microvascular incompetence, isolated buffer-perfused rat hearts were perfused with endothelin-3 (ET-3) in phosphate buffer. 2. ET-3 produced a reduction in coronary flow rate, heart rate and arrhythmia. There was a marked reduction in the density of competent capillaries, and the myocytes showed vacuolation and mitochondrial damage in regions where microvascular incompetence was most severe. 3. These results indicate that ET-3 can substantially reduce microvascular perfusion in the heart and can also cause damage to the myocyte.
Maxwell
L
L
Department of Pathology, University of Auckland School of Medicine, New Zealand.
Pratt
K
K
Gavin
J
J
D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced; D002196:Capillaries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D016232:Endothelins / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D008929:Mitochondria, Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY
D016232:Endothelins