Highlights in basic autonomic neurosciences: Remote ischaemic preconditioning as an autonomic reflex — A question of timing and circumstances?

Abstract

Myocardial ischaemia–reperfusion injury was induced in pentobarbital anaesthetised rats by ligating the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery for 30 min followed by 60 min of reperfusion. Remote ischaemic conditioning (RIc) was performed by temporary bilateral occlusion of femoral arteries for 15 min. The investigators found a reduction in infarct size by about 50% when RIc stimulus was applied 25 min prior to myocardial ischaemia, 10 or 25 min after the onset of ischaemia and 10 min after the onset of reperfusion. There was no reduction in infarct sizewhen RIcwas performed 30 min into the reperfusion period. Prior to the onset of myocardial ischaemia, capsaicin administration to the hind paw mimicked the cardioprotective effect of RIc whereas sectioning of sciatic and femoral nerves or bilateral vagotomy both abrogated the cardioprotective effect of RIc. These manoeuvres had no effect on RIc-induced cardioprotectionwhen femoral artery occlusion was applied 10 min after the onset of reperfusion.