Application of zinc-bis-(DL-hydrogensaspartate) does not reduce apoptotic cell death in myocardial infarction in the rat heart.

Background: Early studies in different stress models have shown potential beneficial effects of exogenous zinc application with reduction in the rate of apoptotic cell death. This has not been shown in models of myocardial infarction.

Methods: Rats were exposed to either brief episodes of acute ischemia followed by reperfusion (phase 1) or chronic coronary occlusion (phase 2).

Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1-induced monocyte infiltration produces angiogenesis but not arteriogenesis in chronically infarcted myocardium.

Background: Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) stimulates the invasion of monocytes into ischemic tissue with concomitant adhesion to endothelial cells. Monocyte stimulation has been shown to be involved in the induction of arteriogenesis, which is the development of functional arterioles resulting in improvement of perfusion. However, angiogenesis (newly developed capillaries contribute to improved tissue perfusion) in several models has not resulted in any improvement in blood flow.