Abstract
Aim: Platelet‐activating factor (PAF) triggers cardiac pre‐conditioning against ischemia/reperfusion injury. The actual protection of ischaemic pre‐conditioning occurs in the reperfusion phase. Therefore, we studied in this phase the kinases involved in PAF‐induced pre‐conditioning.
Methods: Langendorff‐perfused rat hearts underwent 30 min of ischaemia and 2 h of reperfusion (group 1, control). Before ischaemia, group 2 hearts were perfused for 19 min with PAF (2 × 10^−11^ m); groups 3–5 hearts were co‐infused during the initial 20 min of reperfusion, with the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor chelerythrine (5 × 10^−6^ m) or the phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 (5 × 10^−5^ m) and atractyloside (2 × 10^−5^ m), a mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opener respectively. Phosphorylation of PKCε, PKB/Aκt, GSK‐3β and ERK1/2 at the beginning of reperfusion was also checked. Left ventricular pressure and infarct size were determined.
Results: PAF pre‐treatment reduced infarct size (33 ± 4% vs. 64 ± 5% of the area at risk of control hearts) and improved pressure recovery. PAF pre‐treatment enhanced the phosphorylation/activation of PKCε, PKB/Aκt and the phosphorylation/inactivation of GSK‐3β at reperfusion. Effects on ERK1/2 phosphorylation were not consistent. Infarct‐sparing effect and post‐ischaemic functional improvement induced by PAF pre‐treatment were abolished by post‐ischaemic infusion of either chelerythrine, LY294002 or atractyloside.
Conclusions: The cardioprotective effect exerted by PAF pre‐treatment involves activation of PKC and PI3K in post‐ischaemic phases and might be mediated by the prevention of mPTP opening in reperfusion via GSK‐3β inactivation.