Program and book of abstracts 1st conference

1 st Conference of European Academy for Molecular Hydrogen Research in Biomedicine “Hydrogen for Biomedicine“

Andelova Katarina

Student of 4th grade in the Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences. Sheworksunder supervisionofDr. Tribulova and the topicof her thesis is: "Investigation of regulatory mechanisms of intercellular communication in the heart for targeted protection against malignant arrhythmias". The main focus is to explore abnormalities of connexin-43 that is the protein of cardiac channels responsible for direct inter-myocyte communication, thereby implicated in development of cardiac arrhythmias in various of patholophysiological states. She has been also involved in project of hydrogen research implemented by the European Academy for Molecular Hydrogen Research in Biomedicine, whereas she is

interested mainly in microscopic analysis of heart samples.

PROTECTION OF IRRADIATED RAT HEART: EFFECT OF HYDROGEN INTAKE K. Andelova 1 , B. Szeiffova Bacova 1 , M. Sykora 1 , B. Kalocayova 1 , M. Zalesak 1 , N. Tribulova 1 , J. Slezak 1 , B. Kura 1 1 Center of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia BACKGROUND: Irradiation is deleterious to the health, however, we have previously shown that single sub-lethal irradiation of rat chest induces adaptive compensatory cardiac response 42 days later. Notably, the up-regulation of electrical coupling protein connexin-43 (Cx43) and its phosphorylation attributed to PKCε were implicated. OBJECTIVES:We aimed to explore acutemyocardial Cx43 responses to single chest irradiation and the early acute effect of treatment. METHODS: Male, 3-month-old Wistar rats were exposed to single chest irradiation at 10 Gy. Heart left ventricles were assessed 9 days’ post-irradiation in non-treated and treated rats with hydrogen (H2) (3% in air), α-tocopherol (VitE) (60 mg/kg), laminaria extract (supplement as 30% of total food) applicated 3 times per day. Cx43, PKCε and PKCδ protein levels were estimated by immunoblotting and Cx43 topology by immunofluorescence. Besides, histochemical markers of capillary network, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) were analysed in myocardial cryostat section. RESULTS: Moderate irradiation-elicited myocardial infiltration of inflammatory cells was reduced by treatments. Histochemistry revealed significant decrease of ALP activity in arterial myocardial capillary network due to irradiation while the tendency to increase only after treatment withH2. Irradiation significantly reducedDPP4 activity in venous part ofmyocardial capillary network and the tendency to increase after treatment. Myocardial topology of Cx43 was not altered either due to irradiation or treatment. Protein levels of Cx43 were not affected by irradiation while increased due to treatment with H2 and VitE. There were no significant myocardial changes in PKCε and PKCδ protein levels due to either irradiation or treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Findings imply cardiac Cx43-related benefit of H2 and vitamin E treatment of irradiated rats. This work was supported by VEGA 2/0158/19, 2/0002/20, 2/0092/22, 2/0148/22, and APVV 19-0317 grants.

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