Oxidative stress in the rat heart, studies on low-level chemiluminescence.
Detection of ultraweak chemiluminescence (CL) emission from the surface of the organ is a sensitive and non-disruptive tool to evaluate the oxidative stress in rat heart. Indeed, an increased photon emission rate can be observed when cellular antioxidants such as glutathione or vitamin E are depleted, or when organic hydroperoxides are infused. We used CL recording to demonstrate in rat heart that: (i) different diets may lead to different heart sensitivity to an oxidative stress; and (ii) post-ischaemic reoxygenation induces an oxidative stress. CL emission induced by an oxidative stress is accompanied by an increased release of eicosanoids. However, while non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, indomethacin and ibuprofen) prevented eicosanoid release, these compounds dramatically enhanced hydroperoxide-dependent CL. The nature of this phenomenon is still obscure, but the increase of steady-state concentration of excited species caused by anti-inflammatory drugs seems to be pathophysiologically relevant, since in all our experimental conditions tissue damage was proportional to CL emission rate.
Ursini
F
F
Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Padova, Italy.
Barsacchi
R
R
Pelosi
G
G
Benassi
A
A
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000378:metabolism; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010477:Perfusion; D010545:Peroxides / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000378:metabolism
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D010545:Peroxides; D014810:Vitamin E