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Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Assessment of Vascular Tone Responsiveness using Isolated Mesenteric Arteries with a Focus on Modulation by Perivascular Adipose Tissues
08:41

Assessment of Vascular Tone Responsiveness using Isolated Mesenteric Arteries with a Focus on Modulation by Perivascular Adipose Tissues

Published on: June 3, 2019

Infarct-Limiting Efficacy of the μ2‑Opioid Receptor Peptide Agonist Endomorphin‑1 in Metabolic Syndrome and Aging

N V Naryzhnaya1, A V Mukhomedzyanov2, I A Derkachev2

  • 1Cardiology Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia. natalynar@yandex.ru.

Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine
|June 2, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Endomorphin-1 showed infarct-limiting effects in young rats, but this benefit was lost in aged rats and those with metabolic syndrome. Further research is needed for these patient groups.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Myocardial infarction (MI) remains a leading cause of death globally.
  • Aging and metabolic syndrome are significant risk factors that exacerbate MI outcomes.
  • μ2-opioid receptors (μ2-OR) are implicated in cardioprotection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the infarct-limiting efficacy of endomorphin-1, a selective μ2-OR agonist.
  • To assess the impact of aging and metabolic syndrome on endomorphin-1's cardioprotective effects.

Main Methods:

  • Metabolic syndrome was induced in 5-month-old rats using a high-fat, high-carbohydrate (HFHC) diet for 84 days.
  • Myocardial infarction was modeled using 45 minutes of coronary artery occlusion followed by 2 hours of reperfusion.
  • The infarct-limiting effect of endomorphin-1 was evaluated in control (5-month-old), aged (18-month-old), and metabolically compromised rats.

Main Results:

  • Endomorphin-1 demonstrated a significant infarct-limiting effect in young, healthy control rats.
  • This cardioprotective effect was substantially attenuated in aged rats.
  • The infarct-limiting efficacy of endomorphin-1 was completely absent in rats with diet-induced metabolic syndrome.

Conclusions:

  • Endomorphin-1 shows potential as a cardioprotective agent.
  • Its efficacy is significantly diminished in the context of aging and metabolic syndrome.
  • Additional studies are crucial to determine the therapeutic potential of endomorphin-1 for myocardial infarction in elderly and metabolically compromised individuals.
Keywords:
agingendomorphin‑1metabolic syndromemyocardial infarction

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