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1. Heat stress (HS) is known to protect the myocardium against ischaemic damage. It has been reported that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are abundantly produced during this stress. Since mechanisms triggering the HS-induced cardioprotection remain unknown, we investigated the role of ROS in the genesis of this protective phenomenon. 2. Rats were divided into four groups (n=8 in each group), subjected to either hyperthermia (42 degrees C internal temperature for 15 min) or sham anaesthesia and treated or not with N-2-mercaptopropionyl glycine (MPG), a synthetic antioxidant, 10 min before HS. Twenty-four hours later, their hearts were isolated, retrogradely perfused, and subjected to a 30-min occlusion of the left coronary artery followed by 120 min of reperfusion. Myocardial Hsp 27 and 70 expression was assessed by Western blot analysis (n=4). Cardiac activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) were also examined (n=4). 3. Infarct-to-risk zone ratio was significantly reduced in HS (17+/-1.3%) compared to Sham (34.3+/-1.7%) hearts. This effect was abolished by MPG pretreatment (40.6+/-1.9% in HS+MPG vs. 39.8+/-2.5% in Sham+MPG hearts). This cardioprotection was associated with an enhanced Hsp 27 and 70 expression, which was not modified by MPG pretreatment. Antioxidant enzyme activities was not modified by heat stress or MPG pretreatment. 4. Free radical production following hyperthermia appears to play a role in the heat stress induced cardioprotection, independently of Hsp levels. Antioxidant enzyme activities do not seem to be implicated in this cardioprotective mechanism.

Nitric oxide (NO) donors are known to induce both delayed cardioprotection and myocardial heat stress protein (HSP) expression. Moreover, heat stress (HS), which also protects myocardium against ischaemic damages, is associated with a NO release. Therefore, we have investigated the implication of NO in HS-induced resistance to myocardial infarction, in the isolated rat heart model. Rats were divided in six groups (n=10 in each group), subjected or not to heat stress (42 degrees C internal temperature, 15 min) and treated or not with nitro-L-arginine-methylester (L-NAME) a non-selective inhibitor of NO synthase isoforms, or L-N(6)-(1-imino-ethyl)lysine (L-NIL), a selective inhibitor of the inducible NO synthase. Twenty-four hours after heat stress, their hearts were isolated, retrogradely perfused, and subjected to a 30-min occlusion of the left coronary artery followed by 120 min of reperfusion. Infarct-to-risk ratio was significantly reduced in HS (18.7+/-1.6%) compared to Sham (33.0+/-1.7%) hearts. This effect was abolished in L-NAME-treated (41.7+/-3.1% in HS+L-NAME vs 35.2+/-3.0% in Sham+L-NAME ) and L-NIL-treated (36.1+/-3.4% in HS+L-NIL vs 42.1+/-4.6% in Sham+L-NIL) groups. Immunohistochemical analysis of myocardial HSP 27 and 72 showed an HS-induced increase of these proteins, which was not modified by L-NAME pretreatment. We conclude that NO synthases, and in particular the inducible isoform, appear to play a role in the heat stress-induced cardioprotection, independently of HSP 27 and 72 levels. Further investigations are required to elucidate the precise role of HSPs in this adaptive response.

The use of anthracycline antibiotics as anticancer agents is limited by their cardiac toxicity. Heat stress (HS) is known to confer protection against various myocardial injuries such as ischemia-reperfusion induced damage. This cardioprotective mechanism is associated with an increase in endogenous antioxidative defenses and heat stress proteins (HSPs) synthesis. The aim of this study was thus to investigate whether HS could protect against acute doxorubicin cardiotoxicity using the isolated rat heart model. Rats were either heat stressed (42 degrees C for 15 min) or sham anesthetized. 24 h later, their hearts were isolated and retrogradely perfused at constant flow. Following 30-min of stabilization, hearts were perfused during 70 min with modified-Krebs solution containing 6 mg/l doxorubicin. Control hearts were perfused under identical conditions but without doxorubicin. Different hemodynamic and electrophysiological parameters were assessed in hearts from the four experimental groups. Doxorubicin exposure decreased left ventricular developed pressure (approximately -60% of baseline) and increased coronary perfusion pressure (approximately +230% of baseline). Prior HS did not modify these effects. Incidence of ventricular fibrillation (VF) was significantly enhanced by doxorubicin exposure (66% vs 0% in control group). Moreover, the ventricular action potential duration (APD) was significantly shortened in the presence of doxorubicin. Prior HS prevented both increase in VF incidence and shortening of APD. We conclude that prior heat stress protects myocardium against electrophysiological injury, but not against hemodynamic damage, induced by acute doxorubicine exposure. Further investigations are required to elucidate the precise mechanisms involved in this effect.

Heat stress (HS) is known to confer protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury, including mechanical dysfunction and myocardial necrosis. However, the mechanisms involved in this cardioprotection are yet to be elucidated. Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascades have been demonstrated to be involved in cellular response to different stresses. In particular, p38 MAP kinase is known to be activated by HS. Therefore, we investigated the implication of this kinase in HS-induced resistance to myocardial infarction, in the isolated rat heart model, using SB 203580 (SB) to selectively inhibit p38 MAP kinase. Rats were treated with SB (2.83 mg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle (1% DMSO in saline, i.p.) before they were either heat stressed (42 degrees C for 15 minutes) or sham anesthetized. Their hearts were isolated 24 hours later, retrogradely perfused, and subjected to a 35-minute occlusion of the left coronary artery followed by 120 minutes of reperfusion. The infarct-to-risk ratio was significantly reduced in HS (16.9 +/- 2.0%) compared with sham (41.6 +/- 2.5%) hearts. This reduction in infarct size was abolished in the SB 203580-treated group (37.8 +/- 1.9% in HS + SB vs. 42.0 +/- 1.9% in sham + SB). Risk zones were similar between experimental groups. Western blot analysis of the myocardial HSP72 showed an HS-induced increase of this protein, which was not modified by the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor, SB 203580. We conclude that activation of p38 MAP kinase appears to play a role in the functional cardioprotection associated with the heat stress response, which seems to be unrelated to the HSP72 level. Further investigations are required to elucidate the precise role of the p38 MAP kinase and heat stress proteins in this adaptative response.

The protection conferred by heat stress (HS) against myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion injury, in terms of mechanical function preservation and infarct size reduction, is well documented and mechanisms underlying these effects have been extensively explored. However, the effect of HS on coronary circulation is less known. The aim of this study was thus to investigate the role of ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels in the protection against ischaemic injury afforded by HS to the coronary endothelial function. Twenty-four hours after whole body hyperthermia (42 degrees C for 15 min, H groups) or sham anaesthesia (Sham groups), isolated perfused rat hearts were subjected to a 15 min stabilization period followed by a 30 min infusion of either 0.3 microM glibenclamide (Gli, a K(ATP) channel blocker) or its vehicle (V). Hearts were then exposed to a low-flow ischaemia (30 min)-reperfusion (20 min) (I/R) or normally perfused (50 min), after which coronaries were precontracted with 0.1 microM U-46619. Finally, the response to the endothelium-dependent vasodilator, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, 10 microM) was compared to that of the endothelium-independent vasodilator, sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 3 microM). In hearts from Sham-V and Sham-Gli groups, I/R selectively diminished 5-HT-induced vasodilatation without affecting the vasodilatation to SNP. In V-treated groups, prior HS preserved the vasodilatation produced by 5-HT. This HS-induced protection was abolished by Gli treatment. In conclusion, these results suggest that K(ATP) channel activation contributes to the preservation of coronary endothelial function conferred by heat stress against ischaemic insult.

1. Noradrenaline (NA), which is abundantly released during heat stress (HS), is known to induce both delayed cardioprotection and heat stress protein (HSP) 72 expression by the mediation of alpha, adrenoceptors. Therefore, we have investigated the implication of alpha1 adrenoceptors in HS-induced resistance to myocardial infarction, in the isolated rat heart model. 2. Rats were pretreated with prazosin (1 mg kg(-1), i.p., Praz) or 5-methylurapidil (3 mg kg(-1), i.v., 5MU) or chloroethylclonidine (3 mg kg(-1), i.v., CEC) or vehicle (V) in order to selectively antagonize alpha1, alpha1A and alpha1B adrenoceptors. They were then either heat stressed (42 degrees C for 15 min) or sham anaesthetized. Twenty-four hours later. their hearts were isolated, retrogradely perfused, and subjected to a 30 min occlusion of the left coronary artery followed by 120 min of reperfusion. 3. Infarct-to-risk ratio was significantly reduced in HS+V (15.4+/-1.8%) compared to Sham+V (35.7+/-1.3%) hearts. This effect was abolished in Praz-treated (29.1+/-1.6% in HS+Praz vs 34.1+/-4.0% in Sham+Praz), 5MU-treated (34.5+/-2.2% in HS+5MU vs 31.2+/-2.0% in Sham+5MU) and CEC-treated (33.4+/-3.0% in HS+CEC vs 32.4+/-1.3% in Sham+CEC) groups. Western blot analysis of myocardial HSP72 showed an HS-induced increase of this protein, which was not modified by Praz, 5MU and CEC pretreatments. 4. We conclude that both alpha1A and alpha1B adrenoceptor subtypes appear to play a role in the heat stress-induced cardioprotection, independently of the HSP72 level. Further investigations are required to elucidate the precise role of HSPs in this adaptative response.

1. Heat stress (HS) is known to protect against myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion injury by improving mechanical dysfunction and decreasing necrosis. However, the mechanisms responsible for this form of cardioprotection remain to be elucidated. ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels have been shown to be involved in the delayed phase of protection following ischaemic preconditioning, a phenomenon closely resembling the HS-induced cardioprotection. The aim of this study was thus to investigate the role of K(ATP) channels in HS-induced protection of the isolated rat heart. 2. Twenty four hours after whole body heat stress (at 42 degrees C for 15 min) or sham anaesthesia, isolated perfused hearts were subjected to a 15 min stabilization period followed by a 15 min infusion of either 10 microM glibenclamide (Glib), 100 microM sodium 5-hydroxydecanoate (5HD) or vehicle (0.04% DMSO). Regional ischaemia (35 min) and reperfusion (120 min) were then performed. 3. Prior heat stress significantly reduced infarct-to-risk ratio (from 42.4+/-2.4% to 19.4+/-2.9, P<0.001). This resistance to myocardial infarction was abolished in both Glib-treated (40.1+/-1.8% vs 42.3+/-1.8%) and 5HD-treated (41.2+/-1.8% vs 41.8+/-1.2%) groups. 4. The results of this study suggest that K(ATP) channel activation contributes to the cytoprotective response induced by heat stress.

Heat stress (HS) is known to protect against mechanical dysfunction and myocardial necrosis in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion models both in vivo and in vitro. However, the mechanisms involved in this form of cardioprotection remain unclear. Protein kinase C (PKC) and tyrosine kinase activation have both been shown to be involved in the delayed phase of protection following ischemic preconditioning, a phenomenon which appears to be analogous to HS-induced protection. Therefore, we investigated the role of PKC and tyrosine kinase in HS-induced resistance to myocardial infarction, in the isolated rat heart. The selective inhibitors chelerythrine (Che) and genistein (Gen) were used to inhibit PKC and tyrosine kinase, respectively. Rats were treated with Che (5 mg/kg, i.p.) or Gen (5 mg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle before they were either heat stressed (42 degrees C for 15 min) or sham anesthetized. Twenty-four h later their hearts were isolated, retrogradely perfused, and subjected to 35-min occlusion of the left coronary artery followed by 120-min of reperfusion. Infarct-to-risk ratio was significantly reduced in HS (19.9+/-1.1%) compared to sham (43.1+/-1.1%) hearts. This reduction in infarct size was abolished in chelerythrine-treated groups (43.8+/-1.9% in HS+Che v 44.9+/-2.0% in sham+Che), but was conserved in genistein-treated groups (17.7+/-0.9% in HS+Gen v 36.4+/-2.8% in sham+Gen). In order to confirm that genistein at this dose was effectively inhibiting tyrosine kinase activity, we observed the ability of the agent to prevent the hypoglycemic responses to insulin in a separate group of anesthetised rats receiving an i.v. insulin infusion. Western blot analysis of the myocardial hsp72 showed a HS-induced increase of this protein, which was modified by neither the PKC inhibitor, chelerythrine, nor the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein. We conclude that the activation of PKC, but not of tyrosine kinase, appears to play a role in the functional cardioprotection associated with the heat stress response. Although protection appears to be dissociated from induction of hsp72, further work is required to explore the importance of hsp72 phosphorylation to cytoprotective activity of the protein., (Copyright 1997 Academic Press Limited.)