title: [Effect of stress on myocardial apoptosis in ischemic preconditioning in rabbit hearts].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the influence of stress on myocardial apoptosis in ischemic preconditioning group (IPC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four Japanese white rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=6): an etomidate group (the Etom group) of depressed stress established by intravenous etomidate, an IPC group, an ischemic reperfusion group (the IR group) and a methylprednisolone group (the MP group). Myocardial apoptosis was examined by DNA-laddering, in situ nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and Hoechst dyeing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The DNA ladder increased in the Etom group. The percentage of apoptosis by TUNEL method was 1.7%±0.2% in the IPC group, 2.3%±0.8% in the MP group, 3.8%±1.3% in the IR group and 3.0%±0.4% in the Etom group. Hoechst dying was 4.1%±0.9% in the IPC group, 3.5%±0.4% in the MP group, 6.2%±1.6% in the IR group and 7.6%±0.4% in the Etom group. There was significant difference between the IPC group and the Etom group or IR group, and also between the MP group and the IR group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A depressed stress response impairs the inhibition on myocardial apoptosis in ischemic preconditioning. Methylprednisolone may inhibit myocardial apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052; Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
authors.forename: Huashan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Shengxi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wanjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Khan Mohammed
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Firoj
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D005045:Etomidate / Q000494:pharmacology; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D019194:Ischemic Preconditioning; D019157:Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D008775:Methylprednisolone; D005045:Etomidate