Oxytocin exerts protective effects on in vitro myocardial injury induced by ischemia and reperfusion

Among the cardiovascular pathologies, ischemic heart disease is a serious medical problem that can result in cardiac injury and (or) heart failure. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that neuropeptide oxytocin induces cardioprotective effects on ischemia-reperfusion-induced myocardial damage. The functional parameters of isolated Langendorff-perfused rat hearts were recorded before and after global 25 min ischemia and subsequent reperfusion. The infarct size was determined by a computerized planimetric method. The results showed that oxytocin produced negative chronotropic effect even at low concentrations (90-125 nmol/L). Perfusion with oxytocin before ischemia resulted in significant reduction of the infarct size (p < 0.01), which was about 66% smaller than that in the control group. To evaluate the functional mechanisms involved, further experiments were performed under conditions of constant heart rate. The lower dose of oxytocin (90 nmol/L), which was ineffective in spontaneously beating hearts, induced a significant decrease of contractility. Elimination of the negative chronotropic effect of oxytocin prevented its cardioprotective action. In conclusion, our results demonstrated an attenuation of the infarct size in oxytocin-treated hearts, indicating a cardioprotective effect of oxytocin. The data suggest that the negative chronotropic action of oxytocin participates in its protective effects on ischemia-reperfusion-induced myocardial injury.