Ascular disease [17]. Angiotensin II is known to promote oxidative stress, which may lead to activation of inflammatory [18]and apoptotic [19]pathways. These effects of the RAS may be particularly important during young age, as angiotensin also plays a role in kidney and vascular development [20].Effects of Ischemia in Early OvernutritionTherefore, the aim of the present study is to analyze the effects of early overfeeding on the heart and coronary circulation, comparing both the effect of ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) and the role of the RAS in control and overfed rats. For this purpose we have used an SIS3 experimental model of early overnutrition induced by litter reduction. This experimental model is reported to induce an increase in food intake and weight gain during lactation that lasts after weaning [21]. The increase 23115181 in body weight and body fat is also accompanied with hyperleptinemia [22] and hyperinsulinemia [23]. This experimental model may reproduce several characteristics of childhood obesity in humans.Materials and Methods AnimalsEthics statement. Sprague-Dawley rats were used for these studies (Harlan interfauna Iberica S.A., Barcelona, Spain). All the ?experiments were conducted in accordance with the US National Institutes of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NIH Publication No. 85-23, revised 1996) and in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations. The use of these animals was also approved by the Institute’s Animal Care ?and Use Committee (Comite de Etica de la Investigacion, ??Universidad Autonoma de Madrid). ?After mating and pregnancy was confirmed, dams were housed individually and fed ad libitum until the end of pregnancy. On the day of birth 12 litters were adjusted to twelve pups per mother (control) and 16 litters were adjusted to three pups per mother (overfed).Heart PerfusionThe hearts were removed from the rats under anaesthesia with i.p. sodium pentobarbital (200 mg/kg) and following i.v. injectionof heparin (1000 UI). The adequacy of the anesthesia was tested by the absence of reaction to pinching of the plantar surface. Next, the ascending aorta was cannulated and the heart was subjected to retrograde perfusion with Krebs-Henseleit buffer (115 mM NaCl, 4.6 mM KCl, 1.2 mM KH2PO4, 1.2 mM MgSO4, 2.5 mM CaCl2, 25 mM NaHCO3 and 11 mM glucose) equilibrated with 95 oxygen and 5 carbon dioxide to a pH of 7.3?.4. Perfusion was initiated in a non-recirculating Langendorff heart perfusion apparatus at a constant flow rate of 6? ml/min to provide a basal perfusion pressure of approximately 70 mmHg. Both the perfusion solution 1662274 and the heart were maintained at 37uC. Coronary perfusion pressure was measured through a lateral connection in the perfusion cannula and left ventricular pressure was measured using a latex balloon inflated to a diastolic pressure of 5?0 mmHg, both connected to Statham transducers (Statham Instruments, Los Angeles, California) (Figure 1). Left ventricular developed pressure (systolic left ventricular pressure minus diastolic left ventricular pressure), the first derivative of the left ventricular pressure curve (dP/dt) and heart rate were calculated from the left ventricular pressure curve. These parameters were recorded on a Hexaconazole web computer using Chart 5 v5.4.1 software and the PowerLab/8SP data acquisition system (ADInstruments, Colorado Springs, Colorado). After a 15 min equilibration period with constant flow perfusion, the hearts were exposed to global zero-flow ischemia.Ascular disease [17]. Angiotensin II is known to promote oxidative stress, which may lead to activation of inflammatory [18]and apoptotic [19]pathways. These effects of the RAS may be particularly important during young age, as angiotensin also plays a role in kidney and vascular development [20].Effects of Ischemia in Early OvernutritionTherefore, the aim of the present study is to analyze the effects of early overfeeding on the heart and coronary circulation, comparing both the effect of ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) and the role of the RAS in control and overfed rats. For this purpose we have used an experimental model of early overnutrition induced by litter reduction. This experimental model is reported to induce an increase in food intake and weight gain during lactation that lasts after weaning [21]. The increase 23115181 in body weight and body fat is also accompanied with hyperleptinemia [22] and hyperinsulinemia [23]. This experimental model may reproduce several characteristics of childhood obesity in humans.Materials and Methods AnimalsEthics statement. Sprague-Dawley rats were used for these studies (Harlan interfauna Iberica S.A., Barcelona, Spain). All the ?experiments were conducted in accordance with the US National Institutes of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NIH Publication No. 85-23, revised 1996) and in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations. The use of these animals was also approved by the Institute’s Animal Care ?and Use Committee (Comite de Etica de la Investigacion, ??Universidad Autonoma de Madrid). ?After mating and pregnancy was confirmed, dams were housed individually and fed ad libitum until the end of pregnancy. On the day of birth 12 litters were adjusted to twelve pups per mother (control) and 16 litters were adjusted to three pups per mother (overfed).Heart PerfusionThe hearts were removed from the rats under anaesthesia with i.p. sodium pentobarbital (200 mg/kg) and following i.v. injectionof heparin (1000 UI). The adequacy of the anesthesia was tested by the absence of reaction to pinching of the plantar surface. Next, the ascending aorta was cannulated and the heart was subjected to retrograde perfusion with Krebs-Henseleit buffer (115 mM NaCl, 4.6 mM KCl, 1.2 mM KH2PO4, 1.2 mM MgSO4, 2.5 mM CaCl2, 25 mM NaHCO3 and 11 mM glucose) equilibrated with 95 oxygen and 5 carbon dioxide to a pH of 7.3?.4. Perfusion was initiated in a non-recirculating Langendorff heart perfusion apparatus at a constant flow rate of 6? ml/min to provide a basal perfusion pressure of approximately 70 mmHg. Both the perfusion solution 1662274 and the heart were maintained at 37uC. Coronary perfusion pressure was measured through a lateral connection in the perfusion cannula and left ventricular pressure was measured using a latex balloon inflated to a diastolic pressure of 5?0 mmHg, both connected to Statham transducers (Statham Instruments, Los Angeles, California) (Figure 1). Left ventricular developed pressure (systolic left ventricular pressure minus diastolic left ventricular pressure), the first derivative of the left ventricular pressure curve (dP/dt) and heart rate were calculated from the left ventricular pressure curve. These parameters were recorded on a computer using Chart 5 v5.4.1 software and the PowerLab/8SP data acquisition system (ADInstruments, Colorado Springs, Colorado). After a 15 min equilibration period with constant flow perfusion, the hearts were exposed to global zero-flow ischemia.
