Preconditioning and augmented preconditioning via manipulation of metabolic and signalling pathways in the rat heart

Abstract

Cardiac ischaemic preconditioning (IPC) describes a biological phenomenon whereby a short ischaemic stimulus confers protection to the heart against subsequent prolonged ischaemia and reperfusion injury. Understanding this survival programme will enable us to augment tissue tolerance against cell death. Ischaemic preconditioning is poorly understood, however, certain metabolic events and activation intracellular signalling events are known to trigger this cardioprotection. The purpose of this study was to investigate the metabolic and intracellular signalling events which occur during ischaemic preconditioning and their effects on improvement of contractile recovery following an ischaemia/reperfusion insult.