Abstract
Introduction Fasting has been shown to limit ischemic injury and improve functional activity after global ischemia. Because calcium overload is considered a mechanism of ischemic injury, we hypothesized that fasting would limit the accumulation of intracellular calcium [Ca]i during ischemia, potentially due to reduced accumulation of intracellular sodium [Na]i. Methods To address this hypothesis, hearts isolated from rats fed either a normal diet or fasted for 24 hours underwent 20 min of global ischemia at 37°. In addition to functional parameters, [Na]i and [Ca]i were measured using 23Na and 19F spectroscopy using thulium-DOTP−5 and 5F-BAPTA, respectively. In vitro measurement of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium uptake and release, as well as activity of the sarcolemmal Na-Ca exchanger, was performed in hearts from fed and fasted animals under baseline and ischemic conditions. Results Hearts from fasted animals showed greater recovery of developed pressure (37 ± 9 vs. 11 ± 6 cm H2O, p < 0.05) and less contracture (end-diastolic pressure 25 ± 2 vs. 47 ± 2 cm H2O, p < 0.05) by the end of the reperfusion period. [Na]i was similar in the 2 groups during the first half of the ischemic period, albeit with a higher concentration of [Na]i in hearts from fed compared to fasted animals at reperfusion. Fasting markedly limited calcium accumulation during ischemia, with end-ischemic calcium being 419 ± 46 nM in the hearts from fasted animals and 858 ± 140 nM in the hearts from fed animals (p < 0.01). There was no significant effect of fasting on calcium uptake or release by the SR, nor on sarcolemmal Na-Ca exchange activity. Conclusions Fasting for 24 hours improves functional recovery and markedly limits [Ca]i accumulation during ischemia and early reperfusion. The mechanism for this phenomenon remains to be elucidated.
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Received: 7 December 2000, Returned for revision: 22 December 2000, Revision received: 5 February 2001, Accepted: 8 February 2001
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Ramasamy, R., Liu, H., Cherednichenko, G. et al. Fasting limits the increase in intracellular calcium during ischemia in isolated rat hearts. Basic Res Cardiol 96, 463–470 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s003950170028
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s003950170028