Objective: To investigate the effects of protein kinase C (PKC) on ischemic (hypoxic) preconditioning (PC) in the non-heart organs and tissue.
Methods: In the models of ischemia/reperfusion of in situ perfused rat small intestine, limb, and in the model of hypoxia/reoxygenation of cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), the effects of PKC on ischemic (hypoxic) PC were observed.
Results: PKC inhibitor H7 and polymyxin B completely abolished the protective effects of ischemic PC on small intestine and limb subjected to ischemia/reperfusion injury. Hypoxic PC activated PKC in VSMC and potentiated phosphorylation mediated by PKC.
Conclusion: The activation of PKC is also the important chain of PC on non-heart organs, and its mechanism might involve protein phosphorylation.