Publications by authors named "Dirk Breukelmann"

Background: Halothane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane exert negative inotropic side effects, generally mediated via a reduced availability of intracellular calcium. Other possible mechanisms include modified intracellular calcium handling, impaired actomyosin cross-bridge cycling, and/or alteration of calcium-induced conformational changes of the regulatory troponin complex.

Methods: We investigated the effect of halothane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane on calcium-dependent kinetics of isolated human recombinant cardiac troponin C labeled with IAANS (HrcTnC(IAANS)) using stopped-flow and calcium titration techniques.

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In contrast to pretreatment with isoflurane its benefit when applied during reperfusion in rat hearts was only modest. As cellular injury during reoxygenation is greatly determined by sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium [Ca2+] handling we investigated the effect of isoflurane after simulated ischemia in rat ventricular myocytes. Hypoxic metabolic inhibition was induced by exposure to an acidic medium (pH: 6.

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Although hypercholesterolemia is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease, it has in some instances paradoxically been associated with reduced infarct size and preserved contractile function in isolated hearts after ischemia and reperfusion. To elucidate potential cellular protective mechanisms, myocytes of hypercholesterolemic apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE-/-) and wild-type mice were subjected to hypoxic metabolic inhibition (I) with subsequent reoxygenation (R). Intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and pH (pHi) were monitored as well as cell length and arrhythmic events.

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Some of isoflurane's cellular actions, such as interference with intracellular Ca(2+) handling, inhibition of the respiratory chain, and the capability to produce oxygen radicals, could result in impaired cellular function during ischemia/reoxygenation (I/R). We investigated the effects of isoflurane applied during I/R on intracellular Ca(2+), oxygen radical formation, arrhythmic events, and contractile function in rat cardiomyocytes. Single ventricular myocytes were subjected to 30 min of simulated ischemia followed by 30 min of reoxygenation.

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An existing method of equilibrium titration was significantly improved for investigating the effects of volatile anesthetics on Ca(2+) binding characteristics of human recombinant cardiac troponin C in in vitro conditions. The modified method increases stability of volatile compound concentrations in solution and allows for faster and more accurate data acquisition. The time to complete a titration series could be reduced from 28.

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Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) may improve cardiac function. The pathogenesis of this phenomenon, called 'reverse remodelling', is not completely elucidated. To examine the hypothesis that LVAD support eliminates tissue stress by reducing local hypoxia, the distribution of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a stress protein inducible by hypoxia, was examined in vivo and in vitro.

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