[UCP2 and UCP3 gene expression, heart function and oxygen cost of myocardial work changes during aging and ischemia-reperfusion].

To examine the effects of ischemia/reperfusion on UCPs genes expression, heart function and oxygen cost of myocardial work, hearts of adult (6 mo) and old (24 mo) rats were perfused by Langendorf preparation and subjected to 20 min ischemia followed by 40 min reperfusion. Mitochondrial permeability transition due to ischemic stimuli was evaluated by release of mitochondrial factor (lambda 250 nm) which was previously shown as a marker of MPTP opening. Expression of UCPs was detected by reverse transcriptional polymerase chain reaction. Mitochondrial membrane potential (deltaphi(m)) and oxygen consumption in isolated heart mitochondria of adult and old rats were measured. It was shown that impaired function of aging rat hearts was accompanied with an increased oxygen cost of myocardial work and lower mitochondrial membrane potential compared with adult rats. Reperfusion disturbances of cardiodynamic, contractile activity of myocardium and noneffective oxygen utilization in early period of reperfusion were less intensive in aged hearts than in adult ones. Therefore, the levels of mRNA of UCP2 in aging hearts were higher and mRNA levels of UCP3 were tended to increase. At the same time ischemia/reperfusion increased the expression of UCP2 and UCP3 in adult myocardium: mRNA levels of UCPs were significantly higher that those in control, whereas there was no such effect in aging hearts. It is concluded that uncoupling proteins are implicated in the age-depended heart dysfunction and development of the pathological mechanisms during ischemia-reperfusion.