Participation of Leptin and Corticosterone in the Decrease in Infarct-Limiting Efficiency of Remote Postconditioning and in the Development of Arterial Hypertension in Metabolic Syndrome in Rats

We studied the effect of induced metabolic syndrome (MetS) on the effectiveness of the infarct-limiting effect of remote ischemic postconditioning (RP) in Wistar rats. The involvement of leptin and corticosterone in the formation of arterial hypertension (AH) and in reduction of the effectiveness of RP in MetS was also studied. MetS was induced by high-carbohydrate high-fat diet with replacement of drinking water with 20% fructose solution for 90 days. MetS simulation led to obesity, AH, impaired lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, hyperleptinemia, and moderate stress. All animals were subjected to 45-min coronary occlusion and 120-min reperfusion. In the RP groups, tourniquets were applied on the hind limbs in the area of the hip joint immediately after the end of ischemia (3 cycles consisting of 5-min ischemia and 5-min reperfusion). A direct correlation was found between the severity of AH in rats with MetS and the levels of corticosterone and leptin. In rats with MetS, the effectiveness of RP decreased: a direct correlation between the infarct size and serum content of leptin was revealed in rats with MetS+RP. Corticosterone seems to be one of the factors of AH development in rats with MetS.

Automated summary

We investigated the impact of induced metabolic syndrome on the effectiveness of remote ischemic postconditioning in rats, as well as the involvement of leptin and corticosterone in arterial hypertension and reduced effectiveness of postconditioning. Metabolic syndrome was induced in rats using a high-carbohydrate high-fat diet and fructose solution. The results showed that metabolic syndrome led to obesity, arterial hypertension, impaired metabolism, hyperleptinemia, and moderate stress. There was a direct correlation between the severity of hypertension and levels of corticosterone and leptin in rats with metabolic syndrome.