Ligands of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-PPAR-a reduce myocardial infarct size
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Updated: Sep 30, 2026
Improved Rodent Model of Myocardial Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury
Published on: March 7, 2022
Nicole S Wayman1, Belinda L Ellis, Christoph Thiemermann
1The William Harvey Research Institute, St. Bartholomew's and The Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.
Background:
This study was designed to investigate the effects of two, chemically distinct activators of PPAR-a (clofibrate and WY14643) in a rat model of acute myocardial infarction.
Material/Methods:
Male Wistar rats were anesthetized with sodium thiopentone (120 mg/kg i.v.) and subjected to regional myocardial ischemia (for 25 min) and reperfusion (for 2 h). Area at risk was determined by injection of Evans Blue dye and infarct size after staining with nitroblue tetrazolium.
Results:
Pre-treatment of rats with the PPAR-a agonists clofibrate (0.3 mg/kg) caused a significant reduction in myocardial infarct size of 43%. Similarly, pre-treatment of rats with the PPAR-a agonists WY14643 (1 mg/kg) caused a significant reduction in myocardial infarct size of 43%.
Conclusions:
Taken together, these results show that ligands of PPAR-a reduce the tissue necrosis associated with acute myocardial infarction. We propose that fibrates and other PPAR-a agonists may be useful in conditions associated with ischemia-reperfusion of the heart and other organs.
