FIG. 11.
AICAR protected cardiomyocytes against hypoxic stress independently of adenosine. Cardiomyocytes were treated or not (−) with 0.5 mM of AICAR and 100 μM of 8-SPT, a nonselective adenosine receptor antagonist, and 1 h later exposed to hypoxia for 30 h. (A) Viability of cardiomyocytes was determined by MTS cell respiration assay. Bars represent the relative absorbance levels normalized to the mean absorbance level of AICAR-free control cells. We performed three independent experiments in each experimental group and analyzed the findings for 16 samples in each experiment. (B) Injury of cardiomyocytes was assessed by CPK activity in the culture medium. Values are the means ± SDs from three independent experiments. *, P < 0.05. n.s., not significant.