Involvement of Protein Kinase C-δ in the Realization of Cardioprotective Effect of Ischemic Postconditioning

Experiments on isolated perfused rat heart modeled 45-min global ischemia followed by 30-min reperfusion. Ischemic postconditioning was modeled by 3 cycles of reperfusion (30 sec) and ischemia (30 sec). Cardiomyocyte necrosis was assessed by the level of creatine phosphokinase in the perfusate. Postconditioning reduced the release of creatine phosphokinase from the heart by 30%. The cardioprotective effect of ischemic postconditioning was eliminated after inhibition of protein kinase C with cheleritrin or after blockade of delta-isoform of protein kinase C with rottlerin. These findings attest to participation of protein kinase C-delta in the realization of the cardioprotective effect of postconditioning.