The isolated neonatal rat-cardiomyocyte used in an in vitro model for 'ischemia'. II. Induction of the 68 kDa heat shock protein.

In a model system of cultured rat cardiac cells, the expression of the heat shock protein hsp68 was studied after simulating ischemia. We observed both an increase in hsp68 mRNA levels and hsp68 synthesis, while under normal conditions hsp68 and its mRNA could not be detected. Using an antibody against hsp70 and hsp68, immunofluorescence studies showed that during 'ischemia', when hsp68 is not yet synthesized, hsp70 migrated into the nucleus. These results demonstrate that the expression of hsp68 can be used as a marker for the occurrence of ischemia. Furthermore, these findings support the fact that this in vitro system is a suitable model for the study on myocardial infarction.