oxytocin and Fibrosis

The effects of oxytocin (OT) on cardiovascular endpoints were assessed in a myocardial infarct (MI) model. OT (10 ng.kg(-1).hour(-1)) or saline infusion was initiated at reperfusion (D0) or 8 days (D8) after MI. Our hypothesis was that OT administration to individuals with a low pretreatment OT levels (PTOT) may be beneficial, whereas individuals with an elevated PTOT would be prone to adverse effects. Starting OT on D0 reduced left ventricular fraction shortening evaluated 8 days post MI and had no effect on infarct size. OT initiated on D8 in animals with high PTOT decreased ejection fraction (EF) and increased left ventricular end-systolic diameter at 28 days post MI but had no significant effects on EF and left ventricular end-systolic diameter in low PTOT animals. OT infusion reduced OT receptor protein expression in high PTOT animals but not in low PTOT animals. Among placebo-treated individuals, low PTOT presented a trend toward reduced EF and larger infarct size compared with high PTOT. MI areas of fibrosis presented lower Annexin V expression compared with MI with cardiomyocyte predominance. Pretreatment endogenous OT levels and timing of OT administration post MI seem to impact outcome in this porcine model, and further investigations are warranted to define potential role of OT in cardiac regenerative therapy.

Topics: Animals; Annexin A5; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Administration Schedule; Fibrosis; Male; Myocardial Infarction; Myocytes, Cardiac; Oxytocics; Oxytocin; Swine; Time Factors

Various mechanisms have been proposed for the pathogenesis of postischemic hepatic injury, including the generation of reactive oxygen metabolites. Oxytocin (OT) possesses antisecretory, antiulcer effects, facilitates wound healing and has anti-inflammatory properties. Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)-injury was induced by inflow occlusion to median and left liver lobes ( approximately 70%) for 30 min of ischemia followed by 1h reperfusion in female Sprague-Dawley rats under anesthesia. I/R group (n=8) was administered intraperitoneally either OT (500 microg/kg) or saline at 24 and 12 h before I/R and immediately before reperfusion. Sham-operated group that underwent laparotomy without hepatic ischemia served as the control. Rats were decapitated at the end of reperfusion period. Hepatic samples were obtained for the measurement of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and collagen levels and histopathological analysis. Tumor necrosis factor-alfa (TNF-alpha) and transaminases (SGOT, SGPT) were assayed in serum samples. I/R injury caused significant increases in hepatic microscopic damage scores, MPO activity, collagen levels, transaminase, serum TNF-alpha levels. Oxytocin treatment significantly reversed the I/R-induced elevations in serum transaminase and TNF-alpha levels and in hepatic MPO and collagen levels, and reduced the hepatic damage scores. OT treatment had tendency to abolish I/R-induced increase in MDA levels, while GSH levels were not altered. These results suggest that OT has a protective role in hepatic I/R injury and its protective effect in the liver appears to be dependent on its inhibitory effect on neutrophil infiltration.

Topics: Alanine Transaminase; Animals; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Collagen; Female; Fibrosis; Glutathione; Liver; Malondialdehyde; Neutrophil Infiltration; Oxytocin; Peroxidase; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reperfusion Injury; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha