This Article Order Full text via Infotrieve Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bani, D. Articles by Sacchi, T. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bani, D. Articles by Sacchi, T. B.

American Journal of Pathology, Vol 152, 1367-1376, Copyright © 1998 by American Society for Investigative Pathology

REGULAR ARTICLES

Relaxin protects against myocardial injury caused by ischemia and reperfusion in rat heart

D Bani, E Masini, MG Bello, M Bigazzi and TB Sacchi
Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Florence, Italy.

Myocardial injury caused by ischemia and reperfusion comes from multiple pathogenic events, including endothelial damage, neutrophil extravasation into tissue, platelet and mast cell activation, and peroxidation of cell membrane lipids, which are followed by myocardial cell alterations resulting eventually in cell necrosis. The current study was designed to test the possible cardioprotective effect of the hormone relaxin, which has been found to cause coronary vessel dilation and to inhibit platelet and mast cell activation. Ischemia (for 30 minutes) was induced in rat hearts in vivo by ligature of the left anterior descending coronary artery; reperfusion (for 60 minutes or less if the rats died before this predetermined time) was induced by removal of the ligature. Relaxin (100 ng) was given intravenously 30 minutes before ischemia. The results obtained showed that relaxin strongly reduces 1) the extension of the myocardial areas affected by ischemia-reperfusion-induced damage, 2) ventricular arrhythmias, 3) mortality, 4) myocardial neutrophil number, 5) myeloperoxidase activity, a marker of neutrophil accumulation, 6) production of malonyldialdehyde, an end product of lipid peroxidation, 7) mast cell granule release, 8) calcium overload, and 9) morphological signs of myocardial cell injury. This study shows that relaxin can be regarded as an agent with a marked cardioprotective action against ischemia- reperfusion-induced myocardial injury.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Santora, C. Rasa, D. Visco, B. G. Steinetz, and C. A. Bagnell Antiarthritic Effects of Relaxin, in Combination with Estrogen, in Rat Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., August 1, 2007; 322(2): 887 - 893. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X.-l. Moore, S.-l. Tan, C.-y. Lo, L. Fang, Y.-D. Su, X.-M. Gao, E. A. Woodcock, R. J. Summers, G. W. Tregear, R. A. D. Bathgate, et al. Relaxin Antagonizes Hypertrophy and Apoptosis in Neonatal Rat Cardiomyocytes Endocrinology, April 1, 2007; 148(4): 1582 - 1589. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. A. Bathgate, R. Ivell, B. M. Sanborn, O. D. Sherwood, and R. J. Summers International Union of Pharmacology LVII: Recommendations for the Nomenclature of Receptors for Relaxin Family Peptides. Pharmacol. Rev., March 1, 2006; 58(1): 7 - 31. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Negishi, Y. Li, A. Usas, F. H. Fu, and J. Huard The Effect of Relaxin Treatment on Skeletal Muscle Injuries Am. J. Sports Med., December 1, 2005; 33(12): 1816 - 1824. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. C. WILSON, P. MILNE, and T. M. SALEH Relaxin Pretreatment Decreases Infarct Size in Male Rats after Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., May 1, 2005; 1041(1): 223 - 228. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. BANI, S. NISTRI, T. B. SACCHI, and M. BIGAZZI Basic Progress and Future Therapeutic Perspectives of Relaxin in Ischemic Heart Disease Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., May 1, 2005; 1041(1): 423 - 430. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A.-M. PERNA, E. MASINI, S. NISTRI, T. BANI SACCHI, M. BIGAZZI, and D. BANI Human Recombinant Relaxin Reduces Heart Injury and Improves Ventricular Performance in a Swine Model of Acute Myocardial Infarction Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., May 1, 2005; 1041(1): 431 - 433. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. U. BOEHNERT, H. HILBIG, and F. P. ARMBRUSTER Relaxin as an Additional Protective Substance in Preserving and Reperfusion Solution for Liver Transplantation, Shown in a Model of Isolated Perfused Rat Liver Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., May 1, 2005; 1041(1): 434 - 440. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. P. Conrad and J. Novak Emerging role of relaxin in renal and cardiovascular function Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, August 1, 2004; 287(2): R250 - R261. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Quattrone, L. Chiappini, G. Scapagnini, B. Bigazzi, and D. Bani Relaxin potentiates the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase by endothelial cells from human umbilical vein in in vitro culture Mol. Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2004; 10(5): 325 - 330. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. D. Sherwood Relaxin's Physiological Roles and Other Diverse Actions Endocr. Rev., April 1, 2004; 25(2): 205 - 234. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Masini, S. Nistri, A. Vannacci, T. B. Sacchi, A. Novelli, and D. Bani Relaxin Inhibits the Activation of Human Neutrophils: Involvement of the Nitric Oxide Pathway Endocrinology, March 1, 2004; 145(3): 1106 - 1112. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X.-J. Du, C. S Samuel, X.-M. Gao, L. Zhao, L. J Parry, and G. W Tregear Increased myocardial collagen and ventricular diastolic dysfunction in relaxin deficient mice: a gender-specific phenotype Cardiovasc Res, February 1, 2003; 57(2): 395 - 404. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]