Using Apelin and exercise to protect the cardiac cells: synergic effect in ischemia reperfusion injuries treatment in rats.

AIM: Apelin is an active endogenous peptide, which affects blood vessels. Also exercise increases angiogenesis after myocardial infarction and exerts cardio protective effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Apelin and aerobic exercise on reducing the severity of Ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

METHODS

The rats were divided into the following 4 groups 8 weeks before surgery (Langendorff model of perfusion): I) Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R), II: Exercise Ischemia- reperfusion (EX+I/R), III: Apelin+Ischemia-reperfusion (APE+I/R) (Apelin 10 nmol/kg/day, i.p), and IV: Exercise+Apelin+Ischemia-reperfusion (EX+APE+I/R). Exercise was performed on a treadmill 8 weeks before the surgery at a speed of 17 m/min for 10 to 50 min/day. The ventricular function was evaluated after I/R injury, histopathological and immunohistopathology indices were then measured at the scar tissue.

RESULTS

The results of H(et)E, Masson's trichrome staining indicated that APE+EX pre-treatment reduced cardiac fibrosis and the percentage of collagen deposition. It also enhanced the microvessels density (MVD) and decreased the number of inflammatory cells and apoptosis rate.

CONCLUSION

According to our study, Apelin and exercise preconditioning had anti-fibrotic and anti-apoptotic effects on the ischemia-reperfusion myocardium cells, which could lead to the protection of cardiac cells (Tab. 5, Fig. 3, Ref. 33).