Expression of inducible NO-synthase mRNA and myocardial infiltration with neutrophils were studied in rats with modeled permanent ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion models. Expression of inducible NO synthase mRNA in the ischemic region increased significantly in 3, 3.5, and 4 h in modeled ischemia/reperfusion and in 3.5 and 4 h in permanent ischemia. Myocardial infiltration with neutrophils was significantly higher than in intact controls throughout the experiment without significant intergroup differences. In non-ischemic myocardium, enhanced expression of inducible NO synthase mRNA and moderate neutrophilic-lymphocytic myocardial infiltration were also observed in 3.5, and 4 h after ischemia.
Keywords: inducible NO synthase; myocardial infiltration; myocardial ischemia; nitric oxide.