Abstract
The higher incidence and severity of malignant arrhythmias in the elderly is probably due to a direct effect of age on cardiac electrophysiology. Since, oxygen radical toxicity has been implicated in tissue aging, in the present study we tested the metabolic, electrical and mechanical response of hearts from 3-24 months old rats receiving 30 min. infusion of the oxidant hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, 60 μM), followed by a 15 min. wash-out. H2O2 infusion affected left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, induced an increase of ventricular arrhythmias (according to Lambeth Conventions) and determined an increase of cardiac release of oxidized glutathione (an index of the ability of the heart to inactivate peroxides) and of reduced glutathione (a marker of cell damage). These phenomena showed a significant age-related trend. Thus, the increase of arrhythmias in 24 months rat hearts is correlated to decreased metabolic and functional tolerance toward oxidative stress.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 941-944 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | New Trends in Arrhythmias |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 4 |
Publication status | Published - 1991 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine