JPET

Home Help [Feedback] [For Subscribers] [Archive] [Search] [Contents]
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Smits, G. J.
Right arrow Articles by Clark, K. L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Smits, G. J.
Right arrow Articles by Clark, K. L.

Vol. 286, Issue 2, 611-618, August 1998

Cardioprotective Effects of the Novel Adenosine A1/A2 Receptor Agonist AMP 579 in a Porcine Model of Myocardial Infarction

G. J. Smits, M. McVey, B. F. Cox, M. H. Perrone and K. L. Clark

Department of Cardiovascular Discovery (NW4), Rhône-Poulenc Rorer, Collegeville, Pennsylvania


    Abstract
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials & Methods
Results
Discussion
References

This study examined the cardioprotective effects and pharmacology of the novel adenosine A1/A2 receptor agonist ([1S-[1a,2b,3b,4a(S*)]]-4-[7-[[2-(3-chloro-2-thienyl)-1-methylpropyl]amino]-3H-imidazo[4,5-b] pyridyl-3-yl] cyclopentane carboxamide) (AMP 579), in a model of myocardial infarction. Experiments were performed in pentobarbital-anesthetized pigs in which myocardial infarction was induced by a 40-min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery, followed by 3 hr of reperfusion. This procedure resulted in approximately 20% of the left ventricle being made ischemic in all test groups. In untreated animals, an infarct size equal to 56 ± 5% of the ischemic area was observed. Preconditioning, with two cycles of 5 min of ischemia followed by 10-min reperfusion, resulted in a 70% reduction in infarct size (17 ± 5%) relative to risk area. Administration of AMP 579 30 min before ischemia (3 µg/kg i.v. followed by 0.3 µg/kg/min i.v. through 1 hr of reperfusion) did not change blood pressure, HR or coronary blood flow but resulted in marked cardioprotection: a 98% reduction in infarct size (1 ± 1%) relative to risk area. Moreover, whereas approximately 90% of control pigs suffered ventricular fibrillation during ischemia, no fibrillation was observed in animals treated with AMP 579. Further experiments determined the effects of AMP 579 when administered 30 min after the onset of myocardial ischemia, 10 min before reperfusion. Two doses were studied: a low hemodynamically silent dose (3 µg/kg + 0.3 µg/kg/min through 1 hr of reperfusion) and a 10-fold higher dose that did cause reductions in blood pressure and HR. Both doses of AMP 579 produced a comparable cardioprotective effect, reducing infarct size to approximately 50% of that observed in control animals. The cardioprotective effect of AMP 579 was a consequence of adenosine receptor stimulation, because it was completely inhibited by pretreatment with the specific adenosine receptor antagonist CGS 15943 (1 mg/kg i.v.). However, the selective A1 receptor agonist GR 79236 (3 µg/kg + 0.3 µg/kg/min i.v.) did not reduce infarct size, which suggests that under these experimental conditions, stimulation of adenosine A2 receptors is important for the cardioprotective effect of AMP 579. The adenosine-regulating agent acadesine (5 mg/kg + 0.5 mg/kg/min i.v.) also failed to reduce infarct size. In conclusion, the novel adenosine A1/A2 receptor agonist AMP 579 produces marked cardioprotection whether administered before myocardial ischemia or reperfusion. Cardioprotection is not dependent on changes in afterload or myocardial oxygen demand and is a consequence of adenosine receptor stimulation. The pharmacological profile of AMP 579 in this model is consistent with its potential utility in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction.


    Introduction
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials & Methods
Results
Discussion
References

It is estimated that at least 1.5 million people in the United States alone suffer an acute myocardial infarction each year. The introduction of treatment strategies to restore blood flow to the affected regions of myocardium, either with thrombolytics or angioplasty, has increased salvage of myocardial tissue and markedly improved short-term mortality rates for patients who have suffered an infarction. Nevertheless, subsequent cardiac remodeling and dilation, the development of heart failure and long-term mortality remain significant problems (Van de Werf, 1995) that are closely linked to the size of the initial infarction (Miller et al., 1995; Chareonthaitawee et al., 1995). Thus there remains a significant unmet need for adjunctive cardioprotective drugs that can be used during the acute phase of an infarction to reduce infarct size and consequently improve outcome.

In 1986, Murry et al. demonstrated that hearts possess an endogenous defensive mechanism whereby prior exposure to brief periods of ischemia protects the heart from the injury induced by a subsequent prolonged ischemic insult. Since the first description of this phenomenon, which has been termed "ischemic preconditioning," a large number of studies have focused on determining the mechanism responsible (Downey, 1992; Parratt, 1994). Early evidence indicated that endogenous adenosine was the mediator of preconditioning in rabbit (Liu et al., 1991) and dog (Grover et al., 1992; Auchampach and Gross, 1993) models of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. These same studies also demonstrated that the adenosine receptor involved was the A1 subtype. Subsequently, the cardioprotective effects of A1 receptor activation before ischemia have been shown in all species evaluated. Thus an agonist with high affinity for the A1 receptor should be an effective cardioprotective agent. However, for increased clinical relevance to acute myocardial infarction, it is important that a drug also exert cardioprotective effects when administered after the onset of ischemia, before and during reperfusion. This is a much more rigorous test, because ischemia-induced tissue damage is already well established at the point where drug is administered. A number of studies have shown that exogenous adenosine administered at or immediately before reperfusion can reduce infarct size in animal models of acute myocardial infarction. The first of these studies was reported by Olafsson et al. in 1987. Interestingly, the selective A2 receptor agonist CGS21680 has been reported to be cardioprotective when administered before reperfusion (Schlack et al., 1993), and it has been suggested that the cardioprotective effects of adenosine at reperfusion are mediated predominantly by activation of the A2 subtype receptor (Zhao et al., 1994).

Because both adenosine A1 and A2 receptor stimulation have been reported to attenuate myocardial damage caused by ischemia and reperfusion, we postulated that an agent with high affinity for these receptors should be an effective cardioprotective agent. The aim of this study was to examine the cardioprotective profile and pharmacology of AMP 579 (fig. 1), a novel adenosine agonist with high affinity for the A1 (Ki = 5 nM) and A2a (Ki = 56 nM) receptor subtypes (unpublished observations, manuscript submitted). To give the results more relevance to the pharmacological treatment of acute myocardial infarction, we assessed the cardioprotective properties of AMP 579 both when the compound was administered as a prophylactic treatment before ischemia and when it was administered immediately before reperfusion.


View larger version (9K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 1.   Chemical structure of AMP 579.

    Materials and Methods
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials & Methods
Results
Discussion
References

Surgical preparation and instrumentation. Yucatan mini-pigs (16-41 kg) of both sexes were sedated with 4 to 5 mg/kg of telazol (tiletamine HCl and zolazepam HCl, Fort Dodge Laboratories, Inc., Fort Dodge, Iowa) i.m. and anesthetized with 25 mg/kg of sodium pentobarbital (Anpro Pharmaceutical, Arcadia, CA) injected into the dorsal ear vein. An endotracheal tube was inserted via a tracheotomy, and each animal was connected to a mechanical respirator (Harvard Apparatus) and artificially ventilated (10-12 strokes/min, 10-12 ml/kg tidal volume, room air supplemented with 100% O2). The left external jugular vein was cannulated with a polyethylene catheter (PE-205, Becton Dickinson, Parsippany, NJ) for continuous administration of pentobarbital (0.12-0.15 mg/kg/min). After a right femoral cut-down, polyethylene catheters were also introduced into the femoral artery and vein for measurement of aortic BP and infusion of fluids (0.9% saline, 5 ml/hr) and test compounds, respectively. A pig-tailed microtip catheter (Millar Instruments, Houston, TX) was inserted through the right internal carotid artery, and the tip was placed in the left ventricle for measurement of LVP and dP/dt. Arterial blood gas samples were measured using a Corning model 168 pH Blood Gas System (Ciba-Corning, Medfield, MA), and respirator settings were adjusted accordingly.

The heart was exposed by means of a mid-line sternotomy and suspended in a pericardial cradle. A section of the LAD was exposed just distal to its first diagonal branch and instrumented with an electromagnetic flow probe (Skalar, Delft, The Netherlands, 1.5-2.0 mm in diameter) and an occlusive snare. Needle electrodes were placed in the right foreleg and both legs for measurement of Lead II ECG. Body temperature was rigorously maintained at 37°C by the use of two thermal blankets placed both dorsally and ventrally. All pigs were given a 100 U/kg bolus injection of heparin (SoloPak Laboratories Inc., Elk Grove Village, IL) at the start of the stabilization period. MAP, HR, LVP, dP/dt, CBF and rate pressure product (RPP) were recorded throughout the experiment on an MI2 data processing system (Modular Instruments, Malvern, PA).

Control pigs. Control animals (n = 8) were allowed to stabilize after surgery for 60 min. A 40-min LAD occlusion, achieved by tightening the occlusive snare, was then initiated. After occlusion, the snare was released and blood flow was restored to the ischemic area. The animal was monitored for another 3 hr, after which time the pig was given an overdose of pentobarbital. The heart was fibrillated electrically with a 600-mAmp alternating current, removed, rinsed in cold tap water, blotted dry with paper towels and weighed.

Preconditioning and effects of AMP 579 when administered before myocardial ischemia. After surgery and instrumentation, animals were allowed to stabilize for 60 min. The pigs were divided into two groups: preconditioned and AMP 579-pretreated. Preconditioned pigs (n = 6) underwent two cycles of a 5-min LAD occlusion, followed by 10 min of reperfusion (30 min total) before a 40-min ischemic period. AMP 579-pretreated pigs (n = 4) were given a loading dose of 3 µg/kg i.v. over 2 min, followed by an infusion (0.3 µg/kg/min i.v.) starting 30 min before the 40-min LAD occlusion, continuing through the ischemia period and ending 60 min into reperfusion. Hearts were removed after 3 hr of reperfusion as described for the control group.

Effects of AMP 579 when administered before myocardial reperfusion. Animals were divided into four groups: high-dose and low-dose AMP 579, acadesine (AICA riboside, [5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide 1-beta -D-ribofuranoside], Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, MO) and GR79236 (synthesized by Rhône-Poulenc Rorer). The pigs were allowed to stabilize for 60 min after surgery and instrumentation, as were the control and pretreated pigs. The LAD was then occluded for 40 min. Ten minutes before reperfusion, pigs receiving high-dose AMP 579 (n = 6) were given a loading bolus of 30 µg/kg i.v. over 2 min, followed by 3 µg/kg/min i.v. for 68 min (lasting 1 hr into the reperfusion period). Low-dose AMP 579 (3 µg/kg bolus and 0.3 µg/kg/min i.v.) was administered to another group of pigs (n = 6) in a similar manner. The third group (n = 6) received the adenosine-modulating agent acadesine (Mullane, 1993; 5 mg/kg bolus and 0.5 mg/kg/min i.v.) over the same time frame. The last group of pigs (n = 6) received the selective A1 receptor agonist GR79236 (Gurden et al., 1993) at the same concentration as the low-dose AMP 579 group (3 µg/kg bolus and 0.3 µg/kg/min i.v.). Pigs were allowed to reperfuse for another 2 hr before their hearts were removed as previously described.

In order to determine the role of adenosine receptors in the effects of AMP 579, we administered 10 pigs the mixed adenosine A1/A2 antagonist CGS 15943 (Williams et al., 1987) (RBI, Natick, MA) at a dose of 1 mg/kg i.v. 15 min before reperfusion. Five of these pigs were then given low-dose AMP 579 (3 µg/kg followed by a 0.3 µg/kg/min infusion) starting 10 min before reperfusion and continuing for 1 hr into reperfusion.

Determination of area at risk and infarct size. The heart was mounted on a Langendorff perfusion apparatus and prepared for dual perfusion. The LAD was cannulated at the site of the occluder and perfused with a 0.6% solution of triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC). This method stains viable myocardium bright red, whereas necrotic tissue appears pale. The heart was perfused simultaneously through the aorta with a 0.5% Evans Blue solution to delineate the noninvolved myocardium from the area at risk. Perfusion was carried out for approximately 3 min at a pressure similar to the animal's MAP at the end of the experiment. The heart was then rinsed under tap water, blotted dry and weighed. The atria and right ventricle were removed, and the left ventricle was weighed and then sliced by hand into six transverse sections approximately 7 to 10 mm thick from apex to the occluder site with an Accu-Edge trimming knife (model 4786, Miles Scientific, Elkhart, IN). Each slice was blotted dry and weighed, as was the portion of the heart proximal to the occluder. The normal zone, area at risk and infarct zones from both sides of the top five slices and the proximal side of the apical slice were traced onto acetate sheets. Planimetric determination of infarct size and area at risk was made using a Numonics Digitizer Tablet (1000 points/inch, Numonics Corp., Montgomeryville, PA) and Sigma-Scan software (Version 3.92; Jandel Scientific, Corte Madera, CA).

Exclusion criteria. A total of 69 pigs underwent the 40-min coronary artery occlusion. Seventeen pigs were excluded from the final statistics (see the accompanying table) for the following reasons. Nine pigs fibrillated and were not able to be converted. Three pigs needed more than six DC conversion attempts (15-25 J) for successful resuscitation. Five pig hearts had areas at risk that were deemed atypically small (<14% of total LV) and consequently were not included.
Reason for Exclusion Treatment Group
Death after ventricular 4 animals before drug or vehicle
  fibrillation 2 animals preconditioning group
1 animal low-dose AMP 579 group
2 animals high-dose AMP 579 group
>6 DC conversion attempts 1 animal control group
1 animal preconditioning group
1 animal high-dose AMP 579 group
Area at risk judged atypically 2 animals control group
  small (<14% LV) 1 animal low-dose AMP 579 group
2 animals high-dose AMP 579 group

Statistical analysis. Hemodynamic data were analyzed with a repeated measures ANOVA followed by Newman-Keuls' post-hoc test. Analysis of area at risk and infarct size was also performed with ANOVA followed by Newman-Keuls' post-hoc test. Differences were considered statistically significant if P < 0.05.

    Results
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials & Methods
Results
Discussion
References

Preconditioning and the effects of AMP 579 when administered before ischemia. Effects on hemodynamics: MAP and HR data are shown in figure 2, where Isch-x is time of ischemia in minutes, and Reperf-x is time of reperfusion in minutes. Administration of AMP 579 (3 µg/kg and 0.3 µg/kg/min i.v.) before ischemia did not cause significant alterations in MAP or HR. Similarly, there were no significant differences in CBF through the LAD in any of the pretreatment groups (fig. 3).


View larger version (21K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 2.   Effects of AMP 579 and preconditioning (P-C) on MAP and heart rate in Yucatan mini-pigs undergoing a 40-min occlusion of the distal portion of the LAD followed by a 3-hr reperfusion period. Data are represented as mean ± S.E.M.


View larger version (28K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 3.   Effects of AMP 579 and preconditioning (P-C) on CBF measured proximal to the occlusion site in Yucatan mini-pigs undergoing a 40-min occlusion of the distal portion of the LAD followed by a 3-hr reperfusion period. Data are represented as mean ± S.E.M.

Effects on infarct size: Analysis of the infarct data is shown in figure 4. As illustrated in the top panel, the amount of myocardium made ischemic, represented as a percentage of total left ventricle, averaged about 20% and did not differ between groups. In control pigs, 56 ± 5% of the ischemic area became infarcted. Ischemic preconditioning reduced infarct size to 17 ± 5% of the ischemic area. Administration of AMP 579 before ischemia through the first hour of reperfusion profoundly reduced infarct size, to 1 ± 1% of the ischemic area. This is a 98% reduction in infarct size as compared with control.


View larger version (19K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 4.   Effects of preconditioning and AMP 579 infusion on myocardial infarct size (bottom panel) in Yucatan mini-pigs undergoing a 40-min occlusion of the distal portion of the LAD followed by a 3-hr reperfusion period. There were no significant differences in the size of the area at risk between the treatment groups (top panel). Data are represented as mean ± S.E.M. (n = 4-8).

Effects on VF: VF commonly occurred approximately 20 min after the onset of ischemia. The percentage of animals that fibrillated in the control, preconditioning and AMP 579 pre-ischemia treatment groups are shown in the top panel of figure 5. Thus, seven of the control pigs fibrillated during ischemia, and the remaining control pig developed a sustained ventricular tachycardia and returned to normal sinus rhythm only after receiving a mild (~7-J) DC shock. Ischemic preconditioning was relatively ineffective at reducing the occurrence of fibrillation, whereas pre-ischemic treatment with AMP 579 completely abolished the incidence of VF. The bottom panel of figure 5 displays the fibrillation results expressed as an average number of fibrillations per pig. Control pigs averaged 1.6 ± 0.6 episodes of fibrillation. Ischemic preconditioning reduced this to 1.0 ± 0.3 episodes per pig. In addition, preconditioning increased the time to onset of VF (28 ± 2 min) when compared with controls (20 ± 2 min).


View larger version (17K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 5.   Effects of preconditioning and AMP 579 infusion on ventricular fibrillation in Yucatan mini-pigs undergoing a 40-min occlusion of the distal portion of the LAD followed by a 3-hr reperfusion period. Top panel represents the percentage of animals that underwent VF in each group. Bottom panel shows the mean ± S.E.M. (n = 4-8) number of VFs per pig.

Although fibrillation was a frequent event during ischemia, under the experimental conditions of this study VF was very rarely observed (3 episodes in 52 experiments) in the control or treatment groups during the reperfusion period.

Effects of AMP 579 when administered before myocardial reperfusion. Effects on hemodynamics: Administration of the low dose (3 µg/kg and 0.3 µg/kg/min i.v.) of AMP 579 led to no significant change in MAP or HR (fig. 6). In contrast, a higher dose of AMP 579 (30 µg/kg and 3.0 µg/kg/min i.v.) administered before reperfusion significantly reduced MAP and HR during drug infusion, but values rapidly returned to normal after the infusion was terminated (fig. 6). Similarly, infusion of the A1 agonist GR79236 (3 µg/kg and 0.3 µg/kg/min i.v.) also resulted in a significant reduction in HR (fig. 6) compared with control pigs, although this agonist did not cause any significant reduction in BP. The adenosine-regulating agent acadesine (5 mg/kg bolus and 0.5 mg/kg/min i.v.) did not change HR or BP (fig. 6). Bolus administration of the adenosine receptor antagonist CGS15943 (1 mg/kg i.v.) tended to cause a short-lasting increase in BP when administered before AMP 579 or its vehicle (fig. 6).


View larger version (30K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 6.   Effects of various treatments administered 10 min before reperfusion and continuing until 1 hr into reperfusion on MAP and HR in Yucatan mini-pigs undergoing a 40-min occlusion of the distal portion of the LAD followed by a 3-hr reperfusion period. Data are represented as mean ± S.E.M.

There were no significant differences among the treatment groups in CBF through the LAD (fig. 7). Therefore, any cardioprotective effects observed were unlikely to have been related to improvements in the overall level of reperfusion. Figure 7 and figure 3 illustrate that in some animals, residual antegrade blood flow was detected during the occlusion period. This blood flow was almost certainly due to the presence of small branches off the LAD between the flow meter and the occlusive device. Thus it is highly unlikely that this low-level residual blood flow was supplying the ischemic area. Regression analysis of data from the 52 animals included in this study reveals no correlation (r2 = 0.04) between infarct size and residual CBF during the ischemic period.


View larger version (34K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 7.   Effects of various treatments administered 10 min before reperfusion and continuing until 1 hr into reperfusion on CBF measured proximal to the occlusion site in Yucatan mini-pigs undergoing a 40-min occlusion of the distal portion of the LAD followed by a 3-hr reperfusion period. Data are represented as mean ± S.E.M.

Effects on infarct size: Figure 8 displays the infarct data from the groups receiving treatments before reperfusion. As with the pre-ischemia treatments, the top panel of figure 8 indicates that the amount of myocardium made ischemic was comparable in all groups. Infusion of AMP 579, beginning 10 minutes before reperfusion and lasting through the first hour of reperfusion, significantly reduced infarct size to 26 ± 9% and 31 ± 10% of the ischemic area in the low- and high-dose groups, respectively. These are approximately 50% reductions in infarct size, as compared with control pigs. The cardioprotective effect of AMP 579 treatment (3 µg/kg and 0.3 µg/kg/min i.v.) was blocked by pretreatment with the adenosine receptor antagonist CGS15943 (1 mg/kg i.v.), which indicates that the response to AMP 579 was due to adenosine receptor activation. In contrast to AMP 579, neither the selective adenosine A1 receptor agonist GR79236 (3 µg/kg and 0.3 µg/kg/min i.v.) nor the adenosine-regulating agent acadesine (5 mg/kg bolus and 0.5 mg/kg/min i.v.) caused significant reductions in infarct size.


View larger version (26K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 8.   Effects of various treatments administered starting 10 min before reperfusion and continuing until 1 hr into reperfusion on myocardial infarct size (bottom panel) in Yucatan mini-pigs undergoing a 40-min occlusion of the distal portion of the LAD followed by a 3-hr reperfusion period. There were no significant differences in the size of the area at risk between the treatment groups (top panel). Data are represented as mean ± S.E.M. (n = 5-8).

    Discussion
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials & Methods
Results
Discussion
References

Coronary artery disease is one of the major causes of premature death in developed nations. Thus a large unmet medical need exists for drugs that can be used safely during the acute phase of myocardial infarction to increase the degree of tissue salvage that is achieved when blood flow is restored to the ischemic myocardium after thrombolysis or angioplasty. Evidence suggests that drugs that can reduce infarct size will confer significant benefits in terms of short- and long-term morbidity and mortality (Chareonthaitawee et al., 1995; Miller et al., 1995; Schaer et al., 1996). Given that both adenosine A1 and A2 receptor agonists have been shown to be cardioprotective in several species (Downey, 1992; Norton et al., 1992; Schlack et al., 1993), we postulated that a potent agonist at both of these receptor subtypes should possess an effective cardioprotective profile. Thus the aim of this study was to examine the cardioprotective profile and pharmacology of AMP 579, a novel adenosine agonist with high affinity for the A1 (Ki = 5 nM) and A2a (Ki = 56 nM) receptor subtypes.

Because pigs and humans are very similar in cardiac anatomy, including a poor collateral circulation, experiments were carried out in a porcine model of myocardial infarction. In the first part of this study, we determined whether AMP 579 could reduce infarct size when given before myocardial ischemia. In addition, we compared its efficacy to that of ischemic preconditioning, generally accepted as one of the most effective strategies for reducing infarct size (Downey, 1992; Baxter and Yellon, 1994). However, there are a limited number of clinical situations where cardiologists have the ability to administer compounds before myocardial ischemia. Thus a major focus of this study was to determine whether AMP 579 was able to reduce infarct size when administered after the onset of ischemia, just before reperfusion. In this way, we sought to ensure that the results would have greater relevance to the potential of the compound as an adjunctive therapy in acute myocardial infarction. Similarly, the duration of the ischemic insult was chosen in an effort to parallel (as closely as possible) the degree of injury that has occurred in humans at the point (generally between 2 and 5 hr) where they undergo therapy to open an occluded coronary artery. Recent clinical estimates in patients who have suffered an acute myocardial infarction and received reperfusion therapy estimate infarct size to be in the range of 50 to 70% of the area of left ventricle subjected to ischemia (Miller et al., 1995; Schaer et al., 1996). For comparison, in our porcine experimental model, the LAD coronary artery was occluded for 40 min, which produced an infarct size of 55% of the ischemic area in control animals.

Administration of AMP 579 before myocardial ischemia. The results demonstrate that when administered 30 min before myocardial ischemia and through the first hour of reperfusion, AMP 579 produced marked cardioprotection, reducing infarct size by 98% and completely abolishing the incidence of ischemia-induced VF. The dose of AMP 579 employed did not evoke any change in BP or HR, which indicates that the protective effects are not a consequence of decreased afterload or oxygen demand. In addition, this dose of AMP 579 did not significantly change CBF.

Preconditioning (two cycles of 5 min of ischemia followed by 10 min of reperfusion) also resulted in a marked cardioprotective effect, inducing a 70% reduction in infarct size. These data compare well with previous reports (Schott et al., 1990; Van Winkle et al., 1994; Ovize et al., 1995) demonstrating an infarct size reduction in the range of 78 to 91% after ischemic preconditioning in anesthetized swine. However, as suggested by Kloner (1995), it seems that, in contrast to the anti-infarct effect of preconditioning, the effect on arrhythmias is highly dependent on the species and experimental conditions used. In agreement with Ovize et al. (1995), we did not see a significant protective effect of preconditioning against ischemia-induced fibrillation in the pig; however, in contrast to these workers, we did not find evidence to suggest that preconditioning accelerates the onset of fibrillation. This difference may simply be due to slightly different experimental conditions, including the use of a different anesthetic and preconditioning protocol in the two studies.

The precise mechanism of the anti-infarct effect of preconditioning remains unknown. However, in experiments using rabbits, dogs and pigs (Liu et al., 1991; Auchampach and Gross, 1993; Schulz et al., 1995), there is evidence to suggest that the mechanism involves the generation of endogenous adenosine in the ischemic tissue and that subsequent stimulation of adenosine A1 receptors before ischemia renders the myocardium more resistant to ischemia. Moreover, there is evidence in all species so far examined that adenosine A1 receptor agonists can mimic the anti-infarct effect of preconditioning (Liu et al., 1991; Auchampach and Gross, 1993; Van Winkle et al., 1994; Lee et al., 1995). Thus we were not surprised that the high-affinity adenosine A1/A2 receptor agonist AMP 579 reduced infarct size when administered before ischemia in this model. It is worth noting that stimulation of adenosine A3 receptors is unlikely to contribute to the ability of AMP 579 to reduce infarct size, because this compound possesses low affinity (Ki ~ 1 µM; unpublished observations, manuscript submitted) for this receptor subtype. In addition to infarct size reduction, AMP 579 demonstrated a marked anti-arrhythmic effect, a result consistent with previous reports indicating that adenosine A1 receptor stimulation in vivo attenuates ischemia-induced VF (Boachie-Ansah et al., 1993; Wainwright and Parratt, 1993). However, it is interesting that AMP 579 appeared to produce a more marked cardioprotective effect than preconditioning in terms of both infarct size reduction and anti-arrhythmic effects. A possible explanation for the latter observation is that the preconditioning protocol used in the current study was not optimal for infarct size reduction. Alternatively, the constant exposure of the myocardium to a stable (t1/2 ~ 30-60 min after i.v. administration to pigs; unpublished observations) exogenous adenosine agonist during both the period of ischemia and the reperfusion period may simply provide a more powerful cardioprotective stimulus. In any event, these data suggest potential clinical utility for AMP 579 in situations where therapeutic agents can be given before an ischemic insult---e.g., before coronary artery bypass grafting.

Administration of AMP 579 before reperfusion. AMP 579 was still able to reduce infarct size significantly when administered 30 min after the onset of myocardial ischemia, just before reperfusion. Post-mortem visual examination of the tetrazolium-stained left ventricular slices suggests that AMP 579-induced salvage of myocardium was generalized with viable tissue present in endo-, mid- and epicardial regions, interspersed with variably sized islands of necrosis. In contrast, infarcts in vehicle-treated left ventricles were large, solid and generally transmural.

The low dose of AMP 579 caused a 53% reduction in infarct size, and this effect was observed in the absence of any change in HR or BP. This suggests that (as when the compound was given before ischemia) the cardioprotective effect of AMP 579 was not dependent on changes in afterload or myocardial oxygen demand. Moreover, the ability of AMP 579 to reduce infarct size was completely dependent on adenosine receptor stimulation, because this effect was blocked in animals pretreated with the adenosine A1/A2 receptor antagonist CGS15943 (Williams et al., 1987). Although previous reports in the literature (see review by Forman et al., 1993) have indicated that adenosine itself can reduce infarct size when administered before reperfusion, there have been some conflicting findings (Goto et al., 1991; Vander Heide & Reimer, 1996), and concerns have been raised about whether lidocaine pretreatment contributed to any apparent cardioprotective effect of adenosine (Homeister et al., 1990). However, the present observations, made in a collateral deficient species in the absence of lidocaine or any other antiarrhythmic, demonstrate that adenosine receptor stimulation before reperfusion can result in reduced infarct size. Therefore, these observations tend to support the view that lethal reperfusion injury (Hearse and Bolli, 1991; Kloner, 1993) does occur and can be pharmacologically modulated.

A 10-fold higher dose of AMP 579 was also cardioprotective but did not reduce infarct size to a greater extent than the lower dose. The higher dose of AMP 579 also caused a significant reduction in BP and HR. This was not surprising, because it is well documented (Pelleg and Porter, 1990) that adenosine A1 and A2 receptor stimulation can evoke bradycardia and vasodilation, respectively. However, the observations with the lower dose of agonist indicate that the myocardial adenosine receptors responsible for the cardioprotective properties of AMP 579 can be stimulated at concentrations of AMP 579 below those that are necessary to stimulate adenosine A1 or A2 receptors mediating bradycardia or peripheral vasodilation. Similar observations have previously been made for other adenosine A1 and A2 receptor agonists (Norton et al., 1992). This may well reflect a difference in the efficiency of stimulus-response coupling for adenosine receptors in different cardiac and vascular tissues. Regardless of mechanism, this is a positive observation with regard to the potential utility of adenosine agonists such as AMP 579 in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction, where substantial vasodepressor activity is undesirable.

To help further define the pharmacology of AMP 579, we next determined the profile of a selective adenosine A1 receptor agonist, GR79236 (Gurden et al., 1993), when administered prior to reperfusion. The dose of GR79236 used was identical to the low dose of AMP 579, because in vitro data in rat adipocytes indicate that the two compounds have almost identical affinity and efficacy as agonists at the adenosine A1 receptor (Merkel et al., 1995; unpublished observations, manuscript submitted). Administration of GR79236 resulted in a bradycardia but no significant fall in BP, a profile consistent with stimulation of adenosine A1 receptors. However, in contrast to the effect of AMP 579, no reduction in infarct size was observed. Because the cardioprotective effect of AMP 579 was blocked by the specific adenosine A1/A2 receptor blocker CGS15943 but was not mimicked by the selective A1 receptor agonist GR79236, adenosine A2 receptors seem to play an important role in the ability of AMP 579 to reduce infarct size when given before reperfusion. This is consistent with previous reports indicating that A2 receptor stimulation before reperfusion in pig (Schlack et al., 1993), rabbit (Norton et al., 1992) and dog (Jordan et al., 1997) models of myocardial ischemia results in reduced infarct size. However, it should be noted that in other species, it has also been suggested that A1 receptor stimulation before reperfusion can exert a cardioprotective effect (Norton et al., 1992; Lee et al., 1995).

If A2 receptors are important in the cardioprotective effect of AMP 579, what is the underlying mechanism? Although the concept of lethal reperfusion injury remains controversial (Hearse and Bolli, 1991; Kloner, 1993), evidence suggests that neutrophil adhesion, neutrophil activation and the generation of free radicals contribute to lethal cell injury in the early period after reperfusion (Granger and Korthuis, 1995). In addition, it has been established that stimulation of A2 receptors on neutrophils results in the inhibition of adhesion, degranulation and injury to cardiomyocytes (Cronstein et al., 1990; Bullough et al., 1995). Indeed, Jordan et al. (1997) recently reported that the selective A2a receptor agonist CGS21680 reduced infarct size when given just before reperfusion in a canine model of myocardial infarction and that this protection was associated with decreased neutrophil infiltration. Thus it is likely that stimulation of A2 receptors on neutrophils contributes to the ability of AMP 579 to reduce infarct size.

Because there exists considerable clinical interest in the therapeutic application of adenosine-based cardioprotective treatments, the effects of AMP 579 were also contrasted with those of the adenosine-regulating agent acadesine (AICA riboside). Our hope was that a comparative study with acadesine would help clarify whether adenosine receptor agonists (such as AMP 579) or adenosine-regulating agents are likely to offer the most effective approach to inhibition of lethal reperfusion injury. Acadesine is an adenosineregulating agent (Mullane, 1993) that has undergone both preclinical and clinical evaluation for its ability to attenuate the effects of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion. The compound is thought to act by increasing the generation of endogenous adenosine in ischemic tissue (Mullane, 1993). The results indicate that acadesine does not reduce infarct size when given before myocardial reperfusion in vivo, and this is one of the first studies to examine the efficacy of the compound in that paradigm. The results are perhaps not surprising, because it has previously been reported (Galinanes et al., 1992) that in a rat isolated heart model of ischemia/reperfusion-induced dysfunction, acadesine was protective only if administered before the ischemic period. Similarly, all other reports we are aware of related to cardioprotective effects of acadesine involve administration of the compound before myocardial ischemia. It is possible that when it is given after the onset of ischemia, acadesine has insufficient access to the sites of endogenous adenosine production. These data suggest that adenosine agonists such as AMP 579 may offer a more effective cardioprotective approach than adenosineregulating agents in the context of reducing lethal myocardial injury after ischemia/reperfusion.

Conclusions. These data indicate that the novel high-affinity adenosine A1/A2 receptor agonist AMP 579 is a highly effective cardioprotective agent in a porcine model of myocardial infarction. Given before ischemia, AMP 579 almost completely prevents myocardial necrosis and abolishes the incidence of VF. Given before reperfusion, AMP 579 still effectively reduces infarct size by approximately 50%. Finally, the cardioprotective effects of AMP 579 are a consequence of adenosine receptor stimulation and occur at doses below those at which undesirable reductions in BP and HR are observed. Thus the pharmacological profile of AMP 579 is consistent with potential utility in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction.

    Footnotes

Accepted for publication April 28, 1998.

Received for publication December 19, 1997.

Send reprint requests to: Dr. Ken Clark, Department of Cardiovascular Discovery (NW4), Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, 500 Arcola Road, Collegeville, PA 19426-0107.

    Abbreviations

MAP, mean arterial blood pressure; LVP, left ventricular pressure; CBF, coronary blood flow; IS, infarct size; VF, ventricular fibrillation; AMP 579, ([1S-[1a,2b,3b,4a(S*)]]-4-[7-[[2-(3-chloro-2-thienyl)-1-methylpropyl]amino]-3H-imidazo[4,5-b] pyridyl-3-yl] cyclopentane carboxamide) ; BP, blood pressure; LAD, left anterior descending coronary artery.

    References
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials & Methods
Results
Discussion
References


0022-3565/98/2862-0611$03.00/0
THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL THERAPEUTICS
Copyright © 1998 by The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
R. D. Lasley, G. Kristo, B. J. Keith, and R. M. Mentzer Jr.
The A2a/A2b receptor antagonist ZM-241385 blocks the cardioprotective effect of adenosine agonist pretreatment in in vivo rat myocardium
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, January 1, 2007; 292(1): H426 - H431.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Cardiovasc ResHome page
E. R. Gross and G. J. Gross
Ligand triggers of classical preconditioning and postconditioning
Cardiovasc Res, May 1, 2006; 70(2): 212 - 221.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
E. A. Reid, G. Kristo, Y. Yoshimura, C. Ballard-Croft, B. J. Keith, R. M. Mentzer Jr, and R. D. Lasley
In vivo adenosine receptor preconditioning reduces myocardial infarct size via subcellular ERK signaling
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, May 1, 2005; 288(5): H2253 - H2259.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
D. K. Glover, L. M. Riou, M. Ruiz, G. W. Sullivan, J. Linden, J. M. Rieger, T. L. Macdonald, D. D. Watson, and G. A. Beller
Reduction of infarct size and postischemic inflammation from ATL-146e, a highly selective adenosine A2A receptor agonist, in reperfused canine myocardium
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, April 1, 2005; 288(4): H1851 - H1858.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
J. M. Downey and M. V. Cohen
We Think We See a Pattern Emerging Here
Circulation, January 18, 2005; 111(2): 120 - 121.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
G. Kristo, Y. Yoshimura, B. J. Keith, R. M. Stevens, S. A. Jahania, R. M. Mentzer Jr., and R. D. Lasley
Adenosine A1/A2a receptor agonist AMP-579 induces acute and delayed preconditioning against in vivo myocardial stunning
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, December 1, 2004; 287(6): H2746 - H2753.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
X.-M. Yang, J. B. Proctor, L. Cui, T. Krieg, J. M. Downey, and M. V. Cohen
Multiple, brief coronary occlusions during early reperfusion protect rabbit hearts by targeting cell signaling pathways
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., September 1, 2004; 44(5): 1103 - 1110.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
J. A. Auchampach, Z.-D. Ge, T. C. Wan, J. Moore, and G. J. Gross
A3 adenosine receptor agonist IB-MECA reduces myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in dogs
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, July 11, 2003; 285(2): H607 - H613.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
J. Pye, F. Ardeshirpour, A. McCain, D. A. Bellinger, E. Merricks, J. Adams, P. J. Elliott, C. Pien, T. H. Fischer, A. S. Baldwin Jr., et al.
Proteasome inhibition ablates activation of NF-kappa B in myocardial reperfusion and reduces reperfusion injury
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, March 1, 2003; 284(3): H919 - H926.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
Z. Xu, M. V. Cohen, J. M. Downey, T. L. Vanden Hoek, and Z. Yao
Attenuation of oxidant stress during reoxygenation by AMP 579 in cardiomyocytes
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, December 1, 2001; 281(6): H2585 - H2589.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Bio.Home page
J. A. McPherson, K. G. Barringhaus, G. G. Bishop, J. M. Sanders, J. M. Rieger, S. E. Hesselbacher, L. W. Gimple, E. R. Powers, T. Macdonald, G. Sullivan, et al.
Adenosine A2A Receptor Stimulation Reduces Inflammation and Neointimal Growth in a Murine Carotid Ligation Model
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., May 1, 2001; 21(5): 791 - 796.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Anesth. Analg.Home page
I. Matot and O. Jurim
The Protective Effect of Acadesine on Lung Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Anesth. Analg., March 1, 2001; 92(3): 590 - 595.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page