The effect of continuous light exposure of rats on cardiac response to ischemia-reperfusion and NO-synthase activity

Factors modulating cardiac susceptibility to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) are permanently attracting the attention of experimental cardiology research. We investigated, whether continuous 24 h/day light exposure of rats can modify cardiac response to I/R, NO-synthase (NOS) activity and the level of oxidative load represented by conjugated dienes (CD) concentration. Two groups of male adult Wistar rats were studied: controls exposed to normal light/dark cycle (12 h/day light, 12 h/day dark) and rats exposed to continuous light for 4 weeks. Perfused isolated hearts (Langendorff technique) were exposed to 25 min global ischemia and subsequent 30 min reperfusion. The recovery of functional parameters (coronary flow, left ventricular developed pressure, contractility and relaxation index) during reperfusion as well as the incidence, severity and duration of arrhythmias during first 10 min of reperfusion were determined. The hearts from rats exposed to continuous light showed more rapid recovery of functional parameters but higher incidence, duration and severity of reperfusion arrhythmias compared to controls. In the left ventricle, the NOS activity was attenuated, but the CD concentration was not significantly changed. We conclude that the exposure of rats to continuous light modified cardiac response to I/R. This effect could be at least partially mediated by attenuated NO production.