Postconditioning Protection Against Myocardiocyte Anoxia/Reoxygenation Injury From Penehyclidine Hydrochloride

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the postconditioning protective effect of penehyclidine hydrochloride (PHC) against anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) injury in H9c2 cells along with the involved mechanism and timing effect. METHODS: We divided H9c2 cells into 7 groups: control group, A/R group and PHC+A/R groups at 0 min, 5 mins, 10 mins, 20 mins, 30 mins, respectively (treated with 0.1 μm/L PHC at 0 min, 5 mins, 10 mins, 20 mins, 30 mins after the reoxygenation procedure began). Cell apoptosis, oxidative stress, intracellular Ca(2+) concentration, mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening were explored. Bcl-2, Bax, Cyt C, caspase-3 and caspase-9 levels were measured. RESULTS: A/R significantly increased both cell injury and cell apoptosis. PHC showed postconditioning protective effect by attenuating superoxide production, decreasing Ca(2+) overload, restraining MPTP activities, restoring mitochondrial membrane potential, regulating cell apoptosis proteins and modulation of mitochondrial pathway. Earlier administration of PHC offered greater postconditioning protective effect. CONCLUSION: H9c2 cells were protected by PHC from A/R injury regardless of timing of PHC administration (0 min, 5 mins, 10 mins, 20 mins, 30 mins). However, earlier administration of PHC resulted in better PHC postconditioning protection.