Cardioprotective Effect of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition Against Hypoxia/Reoxygenation Injury in Cultured Rat Cardiac Myocytes

Abstract

The present study demonstrates that cilazaprilat can directly protect myocytes against H/R injury, primarily as a result of an accumulation of bradykinin and the attendant production of NO induced by constitutive NO synthase in hypoxic myocytes in an autocrine/paracrine fashion. NO modulates guanylate cyclase and cGMP synthesis in myocytes, which may contribute to the preservation of energy metabolism and cardioprotection against H/R injury.