Mechanism of cGMP-mediated protection in a cellular model of myocardial reperfusion injury

Reperfusion injury of the myocardium is characterised by development of cardiomyocyte hypercontracture. Previous studies have shown that cGMP-mediated stimuli protect against reperfusion injury, but the cellular mechanism is still unknown.To simulate ischemia/reperfusion, adult rat cardiomyocytes were incubated anoxically (pH(o) 6.4) and then reoxygenated (pH(o) 7.4). Cytosolic calcium [Ca(2+)](i) (fura-2 ratio), pH(i) (BCECF ratio), cell...