Activation of beta-adrenoceptors mimics preconditioning of rat-isolated atria and ventricles against ischaemic contractile dysfunction.

The effects of ischaemia and reoxygenation on cardiac contractile function can be abrogated by ischaemic preconditioning (IPC). We tested whether beta-adrenoceptor agonists could mimic IPC and whether IPC was dependent on beta-adrenoceptor activation in rat-isolated cardiac tissues. Paced left atria and right ventricular strips were set-up in Krebs solution and isometric developed tension recorded. Ischaemia was simulated by replacing with hypoxic glucose-free Krebs solution for 30 min. IPC and isoprenaline (10(-7) M) preconditioning for 10 min were examined. Developed tension post-reoxygenation was expressed as a percentage of the pre-ischaemic baseline. Recovery at 15 min was significantly increased by IPC in atria (47 +/- 4.0% vs. 29.3 +/- 1.7%, p < 0.05) and ventricles (39.0 +/- 5.2% vs. 22.4 +/- 2.8%, p < 0.05). At 60 min, isoprenaline-treated atria recovery (75.8 +/- 16.6%) was significantly (p < 0.05) greater than controls (47.9 +/- 2.3%). Propranolol (10(-6) M) abolished both effects. Therefore, both IPC and beta-adrenoceptor agonist-induced improvement of contractile recovery was propranolol-sensitive and beta-adrenoceptor-mediated.