Shedding of the coronary endothelial glycocalyx: effects of hypoxia/reoxygenation vs ischaemia/reperfusion

BackgroundVascular endothelium is covered by a glycocalyx. Damage to the glycocalyx after systemic inflammation or ischaemia/reperfusion contributes to increased vascular permeability and leucocyte adhesion. The underlying mechanisms leading to ischaemia/reperfusion-induced glycocalyx shedding are incompletely understood, in terms of lack of oxygen, absence of flow, or return of oxygen.MethodsIsolated guinea pig hearts perfused with...