Myocardium and microvessel endothelium apoptosis at day 7 following reperfused acute myocardial infarction.
OBJECTIVE
This study was to investigate the salvaged myocardial and microvascular endothelial cells apoptosis at the first week of reperfused acute myocardial infarction (AMI).


METHODS
Sixteen mini swines (20-30 kg) were randomly assigned to the sham-operated group and the AMI group. The acute myocardial infarction and reperfusion model was created, and pathologic myocardial tissue was collected at day 7 following left anterior descending coronary artery reperfusion, and detected by transmission electron microscope, in situ cell apoptosis detection (TUNEL method), Real-time Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction and Western blot.


RESULTS
In the AMI group, the infarcted area showed the myolysis, fibroblast and injuried endothelial cells under transmission electron microscope. The infarcted area had higher apoptotic index of microvascular endothelial cells than the marginal area, the normal area, and the sham-operated area (all P<0.05). Fas and Bax mRNA expressions in the infarcted area were higher than those in the marginal area, the normal area, and the sham-operated area (all P<0.05), and both protein overexpressions and Bcl-2 low expression in the infarcted and marginal areas compared with the normal area and the sham-operated area.


CONCLUSIONS
The overexpressions of Fas and Bax or the low expression of Bcl-2 in the infarcted and marginal heart tissue may play an important role in the acceleration of myocardial and endothelial apoptosis at 7th day following reperfused acute myocardial infarction.
Kang
Sheng
S
Center of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, Jimo Rd 150, Shanghai 200120, China.
Yang
Yue-jin
YJ
Wu
Yi-ling
YL
Chen
Yu-tong
YT
Li
Li
L
Tian
Yi
Y
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D055806:Microvessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015425:Myocardial Reperfusion; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D013997:Time Factors; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor