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Biomedical subjects

C Guarnieri

Publications and source records attributed to C Guarnieri.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Mitochondrial production of oxygen free radicals in the heart muscle during the life span of the rat: peak at middle age.

Mitochondria extracted from Wistar rat hearts at 3, 14-18 and 24 months of age showed no change in state 3-mitochondrial respiration measured in the presence of glutamate or succinate. Again no changes were found in the SMP-O2- production at the level of the rotenone-inhibited region, whilst at the level of the antimycin-inhibited region there was a marked increase in O2- production in the group of 14-18-month-old rats. In the same age period, the production of mitochondrial H2O2 supported by glutamate or succinate and the level of GSSG increased in comparison to the young group, accompanied by a decrease in the GSH level. Mitochondrial TBARS levels did not change during a life span, while a progressive accumulation in the mitochondrial lipofuscin content with age was measured.

Aging↗
PubMed1992

Superinduction of ornithine decarboxylase by halogenated ribofuranosylbenzimidazoles.

1. The effect of dichlororibofuranosylbenzimidazole (DiCl-RB), an inhibitor of hnRNA synthesis and casein kinase-2 activity, on ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) was investigated in a difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) resistant, ODC overproducing cell line. 2. In cells growing in the absence of DFMO, DiCl-RB provoked a marked, but transient increase in ODC activity and immunoreactive ODC content. 3. The ODC response to DiCl-RB was prevented by cycloheximide and was not due to stabilization of the enzyme. 4. The dibromo derivative analogue (DiBr-RB) exerted similar effects on ODC, but was effective at lower concentrations. 5. The halogenated ribofuranosylbenzimidazoles were ineffective in cells growing in the presence of DFMO and containing higher levels of ODC protein.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Spontaneous superoxide generation by polymorphonuclear leukocytes isolated from patients with stable angina after physical exercise.

The activation of circulating polymorphonuclear leukocytes was determined in terms of O2.- generation and elastase release in patients with stable angina (n = 12) and in control subjects (n = 8) after maximal physical exercise and after a 15-min recovery. There was no spontaneous O2.- formation under basal conditions in both groups of patients. On the contrary, there was significant formation of O2.- (p < 0.001) from patients with stable angina measured directly after exercise, along with a slight spontaneous O2.- formation in control subjects (p < 0.05). After recovery, the spontaneous polymorphonuclear leukocyte-O2.- formation decreased but was still present in the patients with stable angina, while in the healthy subjects these values returned to resting levels. The activation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate enhanced O2.- formation both in healthy subjects and in patients with stable angina, with a lesser effect in the latter. Moreover, no differences were observed in polymorphonuclear leukocyte-stimulated O2.- formation during the protocol, both in the angina stable patients and healthy subjects. No changes were found in plasma elastase levels among stable angina patients nor in control subjects as a consequence of exercise or recovery. This study indicates there is an early activation of circulating polymorphonuclear leukocytes in terms of O2.- production in stable angina patients during maximal exercise, which is still present after a 15-min recovery. Such activation occurs without elastase release. However, in healthy subjects maximal exercise resulted in very little increase in neutrophil activation.

Angina Pectoris↗
PubMed1992

Local haemofiltration with free radical scavenger treatment during revascularisation of severe muscular ischaemia induced in sheep limbs.

Many treatments have been proposed for the prevention of the revascularisation syndrome following embolectomy or thrombectomy in patients with severe ischaemia. These include the administration of diuretics, bicarbonate, buffer solutions, free radical scavengers, washing out the venous blood from the ischaemic leg, or systemic dialysis. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of combining haemofiltration with a treatment using compound oxy-radical scavengers in order to prevent or to reduce the appearance of the revascularisation syndrome. The study was performed on 13 sheep. Eight animals underwent 4 h of aortic and vena cava occlusion using irrigation-occlusion catheters, followed by normal reperfusion (control group). Five sheep underwent the same period of ischaemia, followed by 1 h of local haemofiltration and re-oxygenation and 2 h of normal revascularisation. The priming solution for the ECC circuit consisted of 500 ml of 20% mannitol and 500 ml of 18/1000 HCO3- contained: superoxide dismutase (150,000 I.U.), methylprednisolone, 1 g, and heparin, 10,000 I.U. After the 3rd h of ischaemia, 2.1 g of acetate alpha-tocopherol (30 mg kg-1) were injected i.m. The treatment produced good protection against oxidative stress, shown by an increase in the glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG), and reduced muscular damage, confirmed by a moderate increase in creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels (significantly higher in the control group). Diuresis was significantly higher in the treated group, and the acid-basic and potassium balance returned to normal more rapidly. Our data suggest that this combined treatment could be effective in the prevention of the ischaemia-reperfusion syndrome.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Kappa and delta opioid receptor stimulation affects cardiac myocyte function and Ca2+ release from an intracellular pool in myocytes and neurons.

We investigated the effects of mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptor stimulation on the contractile properties and cytosolic Ca2+ (Cai) of adult rat left ventricular myocytes. Cells were field-stimulated at 1 Hz in 1.5 mM bathing Ca2+ at 23 degrees C. The mu-agonist [D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol]-enkephalin (10(-5) M) had no effect on the twitch. The delta-agonists methionine enkephalin and leucine enkephalin (10(-10) to 10(-6) M) and the kappa-agonist (trans-(dl)-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)cyclo-hexyl]- benzeneacetamide)methanesulfonate hydrate (U-50,488H; 10(-7) to 2 x 10(-5) M) had a concentration-dependent negative inotropic action. The sustained decrease in twitch amplitude due to U-50,488H was preceded by a transient increase in contraction. The effects of delta- and kappa-receptor stimulation were antagonized by naloxone and (-)-N-(3-furyl-methyl)-alpha-normetazocine methanesulfonate, respectively. In myocytes loaded with the Ca2+ probe indo-1, the effects of leucine enkephalin (10(-8) M) and U-50,488H (10(-5) M) on the twitch were associated with similar directional changes in the Cai transient. Myofilament responsiveness to Ca2+ was assessed by the relation between twitch amplitude and systolic indo-1 transient. Leucine enkephalin (10(-8) M) had no effect, whereas U-50,488H (10(-5) M) increased myofilament responsiveness to Ca2+. We subsequently tested the hypothesis that delta and kappa opioid receptor stimulation may cause sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ depletion. The sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content in myocytes and in a caffeine-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ store in neurons was probed in the absence of electrical stimulation via the rapid addition of a high concentration of caffeine from a patch pipette above the cell. U-50,488H and leucine enkephalin slowly increased Cai or caused Cai oscillations and eventually abolished the caffeine-triggered Cai transient. These effects occurred in both myocytes and neuroblastoma-2a cells. In cardiac myocyte suspensions U-50,488H and leucine enkephalin both caused a rapid and sustained increase in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. Thus, delta and kappa but not mu opioids have a negative inotropic action due to a decreased Cai transient. The decreased twitch amplitude due to kappa-receptor stimulation is preceded by a transient increase in contractility, and it occurs despite an enhanced myofilament responsiveness to Ca2+. The effects of delta and kappa opioids appear coupled to phosphatidylinositol turnover and, at least in part, may be due to sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ depletion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cycloh↗
PubMed1992

[A 31P-NMR spectroscopic study of the changes in energy metabolism induced by cardiac ischemia and reperfusion in rats of different ages].

In order to investigate the energetic status of the aged heart during ischemia and reperfusion we perfused female Wistar rats 6, 12 and 24 month old. The hearts were subjected to 15 min of global total ischemia plus 30 min of reperfusion. NMR spectra were collected during the entire experimental period to have the in vivo monitoring of the changes in intracellular pH and intracellular ATP, PCr and Pi contents. In the first 8 min of ischemia the fall of pH was similar in the 3 groups of rats, while at the end of the ischemic period the young rat hearts showed an intracellular pH significantly lower than aged rat hearts. At the end of reperfusion, ATP and PCr contents appeared significantly higher in the adult and aged hearts as compared to the young. The Pi content, on the contrary, was significantly lower in aged than young rat hearts. We suggest that the hearts of adult and aged animals, at the end of reperfusion, showed larger energetic recovery, in our experimental conditions of brief ischemia, than young hearts.

Aging↗
PubMed1991

Comparison between alpha-adrenergic- and K-opioidergic-mediated inositol (1,4,5)P3/inositol (1,3,4,5) P4 formation in adult cultured rat ventricular cardiomyocytes.

In adult cultured rat ventricular cardiac myocytes, both the alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine and the selective kappa opioid receptor ligand U-50, 488H affected phosphoinositide turnover. Phenylephrine, over a time course of 10 min, caused a transient increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 which peaked at 1 min and had returned to control at 2 min. In addition, phenylephrine produced a progressive and sustained increase in the formation of Ins (1,3,4,5)P4 which achieved a plateau after 5 min of exposure to the agonist. U-50,488H induced an increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 which peaked at 1 min at a level significantly higher than that due to phenylephrine and was still elevated after 10 min exposure to the kappa opioid receptor agonist. In addition, U-50,488H caused a sustained increase in Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 which was comparable to that due to phenylephrine. The stimulatory effects produced by phenylephrine and U-50,488H were receptor-mediated events, since they were fully antagonized by their respective antagonists, phentolamine or Mr-1452.

3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cycloh↗
PubMed1991

Reduced neutrophil superoxide generation and plasma lipoperoxide levels in pigs fed with cod liver oil.

Circulating neutrophils, isolated from pigs fed for 8 weeks with a diet supplemented with CLO, had an accentuated n-3 fatty acid incorporation into the plasma membrane, as evidenced by an approximately four-fold greater n-3/n-6 ratio as compared with the control diet group. Moreover, the neutrophils of the CLO fed pigs produced less superoxide when stimulated with PMA or f-MLP, as well as showing a more prolonged latency period before O2(-)-generation. In the plasma of pigs fed with CLO there were higher levels of thiobarbituric reactive material and lipofuscin, while the content of GSSG was similar in both dietary groups. The results of this study indicate that dietary supplementation with CLO reduces the activation of circulating neutrophils and favours the presence in the plasma of lipoperoxides.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Scavenger effect of sulfasalazine, 5-aminosalicylic acid, and olsalazine on superoxide radical generation.

The in vitro antioxidant capacity of sulfasalazine (SASP), its metabolites (SP, 5-ASA), and olsalazine (OAZ), was studied by evaluating their effects on superoxide (O2-.) production. Assay systems were the xanthine-xanthine oxidase (X/XOD) reaction and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), using the cytochrome c (cyt-c) reduction assay and a luminol-dependent chemiluminescence method. 5-ASA, SASP, and OAZ showed a dose-dependent scavenger effect in both O2-. generating systems, 5-ASA being the most powerful (greater than 50% of inhibition in the PMNs system and greater than 70% in the X/XOD system at 10 microM concentration). SP had an inhibitory effect only in the PMNs system but did not modify the activity of xanthine oxidase, thus excluding a scavenger action. These data suggest that the scavenger effect of 5-ASA, SASP, and OAZ may be an important mechanism of action.

Aminosalicylic Acids↗
PubMed1991

Enhanced superoxide production with no change of the antioxidant activity in gingival fluid of patients with chronic adult periodontitis.

In the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of control and chronic adult periodontitis (CAP) patients there is a spontaneous release of O2- radicals from polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). The addition of the exogenous stimuli phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) decreased the O2-. formation in control GCF, while in CAP patients produced a marked enhancement of O2-. generation. The circulating PMN of control subjects did not show a spontaneous O2-. formation, differently from CAP patients. On the contrary, a similar O2-. production was measured when the circulating PMN were stimulated with PMA. Moreover, the antioxidant activity measured in 10 microliters of cell free gingival supernatant (GS) of control and CAP patients had the same values by inhibiting 12.6% and 18.9% respectively of the O2- formation supported by a xanthine/xanthine oxidase system. Probably, the protective or destructive effect of PMN in GCF of CAP patients depends on the variations of the rate of O2- formation in respect to the intrinsic antioxidant property of GS.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[The inhibitory effect of magnesium on mitochondrial calcium uptake in ischemic and reperfused rat hearts].

Several studies suggest that the protection exerted by Mg2+ on the reperfused myocardium may be mostly due to its competitive effect with respect to Ca2+. The aim of this research was to evaluate the inhibitory action of Mg2+ on mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake in the reperfused myocardium. Hearts of male Wistar rats (250-300 g) were isolated and perfused by the Langendorff technique. Aerobic control hearts (n = 6) were perfused with a constant flow of 10 ml/min/g for 65 min. In a second group (n = 6) the hearts were aerobically equilibrated for 20 min, then subjected to 30 min of ischemia (98% reduction of coronary flow) and subsequently reperfused for 15 min at the same preischemic flow. The hearts of both groups were electrically stimulated at 300 b/min. Then, the hearts were pooled in groups of 2 each and homogenized for the isolation of mitochondria. One part of mitochondrial suspension was used to evaluate the respiratory function by a polarographic technique. The remaining part was incubated with fura-2/AM for 10 min at 30 degrees C in order to determine the kinetics of Ca2+ transport within mitochondria in the presence of succinate as substrate. Ca2+ uptake was reduced in the mitochondria of reperfused hearts with respect to control, particularly in the presence of elevated extramitochondrial Ca2+ concentrations (greater than 10 nM). On the contrary the initial rate of Ca2+ uptake was increased in the reperfused mitochondria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[The biochemical bases of cardiovascular aging].

The majority of reports concerning the performance of senescent heart in both human and animal models states that, at rest, most hemodynamic parameters are substantially unchanged during aging, with the exception of a prolongation of left ventricular ejection time and a decrease in the early diastolic filling rate. A biochemical rationale for the increased early diastolic filling time with age seems to be the enhanced stiffness of left ventricular wall due to either myocardial hypertrophy or collagen tissue accumulation. The prolonged time of contraction and the inadequate response to stress of cardiac muscle in elderly subjects may be the consequence of changes in different steps of the excitation-contraction coupling, namely altered intracellular calcium homeostasis, reduced availability of highly energetic compounds, and impaired response to adrenergic stimulation. These defects can cause major hemodynamic changes when the heart is subjected to volume or pressure overload. In fact, during exercise, elderly subjects can reach a maximal heart rate slower than that of younger people. The possibility that the toxicity of oxygen reactive forms may provoke some age-related myocardial lesions such as structural alteration of membranes and enzyme inactivation is very attractive but the linkage between the most functional perturbations of aged hearts and peroxidative stress remains to be clarified.

Aging↗
PubMed1990

Effect of ATP depletion and phenanthroline on the spermidine-mediated decay of ornithine decarboxylase in erythroleukemia cells.

Addition of spermidine to Friend erythroleukemia cells caused a rapid decay of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and the accumulation of a ODC-antizyme complex. The induction of antizyme only partially accounted for the decrease of ODC activity by a direct inhibition of the enzyme. However, the antizyme induction was accompanied by a marked reduction of the half-life of ODC. Shift of the cells to an ATP-depleting medium prevented the spermidine-elicited decay of ODC activity as well as the accumulation of ODC-antizyme complex. However, ODC appeared to be stabilized even when ATP depletion was performed 40 min after spermidine addition, in the presence of high levels of antizyme. Similar results were obtained by treating the cells with phenanthroline, a heavy metal chelator and protease inhibitor. These findings indicate that ATP and some metalloprotease(s) may be involved in the degradation pathway of ODC, even in the presence of high levels of polyamines.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1990

Phosphorylation of ornithine decarboxylase in intact erythroleukemia cells.

32P-labeled ornithine decarboxylase was isolated by immunoprecipitation from murine erythroleukemia cells incubated in a medium containing [32P]ortophosphoric acid. Analysis of immunoprecipitate by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography revealed a radiolabeled band, which corresponded to the position of mouse ornithine decarboxylase, phosphorylated in vitro by casein kinase-2. A preparation of casein kinase-2 purified from nuclei of erythroleukemia cells could also phosphorylate mouse ornithine decarboxylase.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Mitochondrial function and superoxide generation from submitochondrial particles of aged rat hearts.

A decrease in heart function with ageing might be related to an impairment of mitochondrial function, since these organelles produce the greatest fraction of ATP in the myocyte. Mitochondria extracted from Wistar rat hearts at 3, 14, 18 and 24 months of age were employed to evaluate the changes of the respiratory activity during lifetime. A slight decrease of the respiratory rate (QO2) was observed in the 14 month group with respect to the 3 month group when succinate was used as substrate, whereas the respiratory control index (RCI) in the presence of glutamate or succinate increased in the 24 month group. The latter result may be related to a condition of moderate hypertrophy that generally occurs in the ageing heart. Submitochondrial particles (SMP) were also prepared to study the superoxide radicals (O2-) production at the level of rotenone or antimycin-inhibited regions of the respiratory chain. A strong elevation in the O2- generation was observed in the antimycin-inhibited region at 14 months of age; on the contrary, the rate of O2- production remained unchanged in the 24 month group in comparison to the youngest group. These observations correlate well with the enhanced tissue level of oxidized glutathione that was observed at 14 and 18 months of age. The products of lipid peroxidation (TBARS) did not change in the rat heart at any of the ages measured, whereas the levels of fluorescent substances progressively increased beginning from 18 months of age, with a greater extent in the mitochondrial compartment. The present study suggests that age does not substantially affect mitochondrial respiration and energy output in the rat heart, while a greater production by cardiac mitochondria of superoxide anions in the adult rats (14 months) might accelerate the fluorescent pigment formation.

Aging↗
PubMed1990

Reduced oxidative activity of circulating neutrophils in patients after myocardial infarction.

Circulating neutrophils isolated from patients 3-4 h after a myocardial infarction produced less O2-. compared with controls, when stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate or formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine. Three days after the infarction the O2-. generation elicited by both stimuli further decreased markedly. Seven and 15 days after infarction the O2-. stimulated production was only slightly lower than or similar to the control values. The neutrophils of infarcted patients showed an augmented latency period before O2-. production compared with controls in response to exogenous stimuli, particularly three days after infarction. Electron microscopy revealed that the neutrophils isolated from the infarcted patients displayed signs of cell exhaustion with few alterations of the plasma membranes when stimulated with phorbol ester. In contrast, control neutrophils displayed alterations of the plasma membranes characteristic of active neutrophils. The results of this study indicate that the circulating neutrophils appear exhausted and functionally inhibited immediately after myocardial infarction.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Alterations in polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of cardiac membrane phospholipids and alpha 1 adrenoceptor mediated phosphatidylinositol turnover.

STUDY OBJECTIVE - The aim of the study was to investigate the steps at which polyunsaturated fatty acids are involved in alpha 1 adrenoceptor mediated phosphatidylinositol turnover. DESIGN - Phosphatidylinositol turnover rates were investigated after preincubating neonatal rat ventricular myocytes with culture media enriched with linoleic acid (18:2n-6) or eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) to change the polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of their membrane phospholipids. EXPERIMENTAL MATERIAL - Cardiomyocytes were isolated from ventricles of 2-4 d old Wistar rats by trypsinization and were then cultured. Experiments were started 48 h after seeding, when there was a confluent monolayer of beating cardiomyocytes. MEASUREMENTS and RESULTS - In 18:2n-6 treated cells the 18:2n-6 content in the total phospholipid fraction rose from 45 to 68 nmol.mg-1 protein; in 20:5n-6 treated cells the 20:5n-3 content rose from 1.5 to 12.5 nmol.mg-1 protein, and the docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-3) content rose from 5.1 to 14.7 nmol.mg-1 protein. The major n-3 fatty acid, 22:6n-3 (11.4 nmol.mg-1 protein), did not change after 20:5n-3 treatment. Although the phosphatidylinositol fraction showed changes paralleling those in the total phospholipids, none were significant. In this fraction the major n-3 fatty acid appeared to be 22:5n-3 (0.4 nmol.mg-1 protein). The fatty acid treated cells were prelabelled with [3H]-inositol to estimate the rate of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate turnover. There were no differences in the rate of [3H]-inositolphosphate formation between control, 18:2n-6 treated cells, and 20:5n-3 treated cells. Prolonged alpha 1 adrenergic stimulation of control and treated cells did not change the polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of the total phospholipid and phosphatidylinositol fractions. CONCLUSIONS - The alpha 1 adrenoceptor mediated phosphatidylinositol turnover rate is not affected by changes in polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of membrane phospholipids, neither does prolonged alpha 1 adrenergic stimulation lead to significant depletion of any specific or total polyunsaturated fatty acids in the phosphatidylinositol lipids.

Animals↗