Myocardial protective effect and its mechanism of leukocyte-depleted reperfusion in neonatal rabbit hearts

Thirty-six isolated blood-perfused hearts from newborn rabbits (age range, birth to 2 days) were subjected to 2 hours of cold global ischemia (15 °C), with an initial infusion of cold crystalloid cardioplegic solution, followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion (37 °C). The hearts were divided into two groups: those reperfused with whole blood (n = 18) and those reperfused with leukocyte -depleted blood (n = 18) obtained by the passage of blood through a leukocyte removal filter. At 30 minutes of reperfusion, the group of hearts reperfused with leukocyte-depleted blood showed significantly higher percentages of recovery in terms of the left ventricular developed pressure, the maximum rate of increase of left ventricular pressure, the rate pressure product, coronary sinus flow, and the adenosine triphosphate content in myocardium than did the group of hearts reperfused with whole blood. The hearts reperfused with leukocyte -depleted blood also showed significantly lower levels of malondialdehyde, chemiluminescence in the coronary sinus effluent, and counts of intracapillary neutrophils in myocardium than did the group of hearts reperfused with whole blood. The ultrastructural semiquantitative assessment in the myocardium showed that the mitochondrial and endothelial cell damages after 30 minutes of reperfusion were significantly less in the hearts reperfused with leukocyte-depleted blood than those in the hearts reperfused with whole blood. These results suggest that reperfusion with leukocyte-depleted blood prevents reperfusion injury in neonatal hearts, with possible attenuation of endothelial cellular injury and a subsequent no-reflow phenomenon.     

Influence of initial reperfusion pressure after hypothermic cardioplegic ischemia on endothelial modulation of coronary tone in neonatal lambs. Impaired coronary vasodilator response to acetylcholine

To examine the effect of initial coronary reperfusion pressure on endothelial function, we subjected 16 isolated perfused neonatal lamb hearts to 2 hours of ischemia with potassium cardioplegic solution followed by reperfusion for 1 hour. Before ischemia both acetylcholine, an endothelium-dependent vasodilator, and nitroglycerin, and endothelium-independent vasodilator, caused coronary vasodilation. After ischemia the response to acetylcholine was impaired in the eight hearts with high initial reperfusion pressure (60 mm Hg) but was intact in the eight hearts with low initial reperfusion pressure (20 mm Hg for 10 minutes, 40 mm Hg for 10 minutes, and then 60 mm Hg thereafter). The response to nitroglycerin, however, remained intact regardless of initial reperfusion pressure. Recovery of resting coronary flow and myocardial oxygen consumption was lower in the group with high pressure reperfusion than in the group with low pressure reperfusion. On reperfusion a transient burst of coronary flow was exhibited by the hearts reperfused at high pressure. These results suggest that high initial reperfusion pressure impairs the endothelial modulation of coronary tone; this may be related to the effects on the coronary vasculature of the "burst" of coronary flow associated with high intravascular pressure.     

Ozone administration reduces reperfusion injury in an isolated rat heart model

BACKGROUND: Accumulating clinical experience with ozone administration for conditions associated with ischemia has been encouraging. The aim of our study was to determine the effect of ozone on reperfusion injury in an isolated rat heart model. METHODS: Isolated rat hearts were perfused with modified Krebs-Henseleit buffer solution via ascending aorta cannulation. After 15 minutes, perfusion was stopped and global ischemia was maintained for 30 minutes, following which perfusion was restarted, and continued for 40 minutes. Baseline hemodynamic measurements (heart rate, left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), dP/dt, and coronary flow) were taken prior to ischemia, and every 10 minutes after reperfusion was started. Eleven hearts were treated with ozone during reperfusion and eight hearts served as controls. In the treatment group, after 5 minutes of reperfusion, ozone was administered in distilled water via a side arm for 5 minutes. RESULTS: Preischemic baseline hemodynamic measurements and coronary flow were similar in the two groups. Hearts treated with ozone during reperfusion exhibited better recovery than did controls. Mean (+/-SE) percent recovery for treatment and control groups, respectively, was: LVDP 69 +/- 2% vs 51 +/- 6% (p = 0.04); dP/dt 68.9 +/- 13.3% vs 53.7 +/- 20.4% (p = 0.05); and LVDPxHR 61.4 +/- 3.3% vs 44.4 +/- 3.5% (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: In the isolated rat heart model, treatment with ozone during reperfusion enables better recovery than in controls. Although the mechanism by which ozone exerts its beneficial effect is not identified, it is possibly due to reduction in reperfusion injury.     

Role of ceramide in ischemic preconditioning

BACKGROUND: A recent study showed increased myocardial content of ceramide and sphingosine during preconditioning (PC). Because sphingosine-1-phosphate, a metabolite of ceramide, may function as an antiapoptotic factor, we hypothesized the increased ceramide during PC may be heart's effort to harness its own protection. STUDY DESIGN: The isolated hearts were divided into five groups: 1) perfused for 3 hours 45 minutes with KHB buffer (control); 2) perfused with buffer for 45 minutes followed by 30 minutes of ischemia and 2 hours of reperfusion; 3) perfused for 15 minutes with desipramine followed by 30 minutes of perfusion with buffer, 30 minutes of ischemia, and 2 hours of reperfusion; 4) preconditioned followed by 30 minutes of ischemia and 2 hours of reperfusion; and 5) the same as 4), but preperfused for 15 minutes with desipramine. Myocardial preservation was assessed by examining left ventricular function, infarct size, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. RESULTS: Ischemia/reperfusion-mediated cardiac dysfunction was partially restored with desipramine. PC improved postischemic ventricular recovery and reduced myocardial infarct size and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. The cardioprotective abilities of PC were abolished with desipramine, which also downregulated a PC-mediated increase in antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. The apparent paradoxical results of desipramine can be explained by the increase in proapoptotic ceramide content in the ischemic reperfused heart that was blocked with desipramine and an increase in antiapoptotic sphingosine-1-p content in the preconditioned heart that was inhibited with desipramine. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested for the first time that sphingolipid can induce the expression of Bcl-2 warranting its clinical use as a pharmacologic PC agent.     

Acute severe postischemic myocardial depression reversed by triiodothyronine.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of triiodothyronine (T3) on postischemic left ventricular performance and high-energy phosphate content in a severe injury model. Isolated working rat hearts (n = 63) received 20 mL of hyperkalemic NIH No. 1 cardioplegia and were subjected to 20 minutes of ischemia at 37 degrees C. Treated hearts were reperfused with T3-supplemented modified Krebs-Henseleit buffer. Control hearts did not receive T3 supplementation. All treated hearts (n = 44) performed work after ischemia, whereas 26% (5/19) of the control hearts were not able to perform any left ventricular work after ischemia. Comparisons with preischemic values demonstrated significant progressive hemodynamic recovery with increasing concentrations of T3 (0, 0.06, 0.15, and 0.60 ng/mL) with concomitant recovery of left ventricular stroke work index (63%, 72%, 89% [p less than 0.05], and 99% [p less than 0.05], respectively). There were corresponding increases in recovery of aortic flow, systolic pressure, cardiac index, and stroke volume index (p less than 0.05). There were no significant changes in coronary sinus flow or heart rate in any group compared with preischemic values. Comparisons of postischemic high-energy phosphate concentrations also demonstrated no change between treated and untreated groups (p greater than 0.05). We conclude that administration of T3 in a severe left ventricular injury model significantly augments rapid ventricular recovery with no change in postischemic high-energy phosphate concentrations.     

Mepacrine, a phospholipase inhibitor. A potential tool for modifying myocardial reperfusion injury

Cardioprotective effects of phospholipase inhibitor, mepacrine, on ischemic reperfused myocardium were investigated in the isolated in situ pig heart preparation, which was subjected to 120 minutes of regional ischemia, with the final 60 minutes having superimposed global cardioplegic arrest followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion. Mepacrine (0.05 mmol/L) was administered before ischemia into the perfusion circuit in 15 of 29 experiments. Significant depletion of myocardial phospholipids occurred in nontreated animals during 60 minutes of reperfusion. Mepacrine prevented the reperfusion-induced phospholipid degradation. Further, the level of high-energy phosphate compounds was higher during ischemia and reperfusion in the mepacrine-treated hearts. Left ventricular developed pressure, maximum rate of rise of left ventricular pressure, and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure were measured under isovolumic conditions to assess cardiac contractility and compliance. During incubation with mepacrine, before ischemia, left ventricular developed pressure and maximum rate of rise of left ventricular pressure decreased to 45% and 51% of baseline values, respectively. This initial decline was improved to 65% and 70% in mepacrine-treated animals during the early period of regional ischemia. In the nontreated control heart, a progressive decline in contractility was observed with ischemia such that no significant difference was apparent in the two groups. Reperfusion resulted in a further deterioration of global cardiac performance in both mepacrine-treated and control animals. Although pretreatment with mepacrine did not improve contractility, myocardial oxygen consumption, coronary flow, and cardiac compliance significantly improved. These results suggest that myocardial injury may develop during reperfusion after temporary ischemia. Mepacrine inhibits such injury by acting as a phospholipase inhibitor, but it also behaves as a negative inotropic agent in ischemic reperfused myocardium.     

Myocardial protection with oxygenated esmolol cardioplegia during prolonged normothermic ischemia in the rat

OBJECTIVE: We previously showed that arrest with multidose infusions of high-dose (1 mmol/L) esmolol (an ultra-short-acting beta-blocker) in oxygenated Krebs-Henseleit buffer (esmolol cardioplegia) provided complete myocardial protection after 40 minutes of normothermic (37 degrees C) global ischemia in isolated rat hearts. In this study we investigated the importance of oxygenation for protection with esmolol cardioplegia, compared it with that of St Thomas' Hospital cardioplegia, and determined the protective efficacy of multidose esmolol cardioplegia for extended ischemic durations. METHODS: Isolated rat hearts (n = 6/group) were perfused in the Langendorff mode at constant pressure (75 mm Hg) with oxygenated Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer at 37 degrees C. The first part of the first study had four groups: (i) multidose (every 15 minutes) oxygenated (95% oxygen/5% carbon dioxide) Krebs-Henseleit buffer during 60 minutes of global ischemia, (ii) multidose deoxygenated (95% nitrogen/5% carbon dioxide) Krebs-Henseleit buffer during 60 minutes of global ischemia, (iii) multidose oxygenated esmolol cardioplegia during 60 minutes of global ischemia, and (iv) multidose deoxygenated esmolol cardioplegia during 60 minutes of global ischemia. The second part of the first study had three groups: (v) multidose St Thomas' Hospital solution during 60 minutes of global ischemia, (vi) multidose oxygenated St Thomas' Hospital solution during 60 minutes of global ischemia, and (vii) multidose oxygenated esmolol cardioplegia during 60 minutes of global ischemia. In the second study, hearts were randomly assigned to 60, 75, 90, or 120 minutes of global ischemia and at each ischemic duration were subjected to multidose oxygenated constant flow or constant pressure infusion of (i) Krebs-Henseleit buffer (constant flow), (ii) Krebs-Henseleit buffer (constant pressure), (iii) esmolol cardioplegia (constant flow), or (iv) esmolol cardioplegia (constant pressure). All hearts were reperfused for 60 minutes, and recovery of function was measured. RESULTS: Multidose infusion of oxygenated esmolol cardioplegia completely protected the hearts (97% +/- 5%) after 60 minutes of 37 degrees C global ischemia. Deoxygenated esmolol cardioplegia was significantly less protective (45% +/- 8%). Oxygenation of St Thomas' Hospital solution did not alter its protective efficacy in this study (70% +/- 4% vs 69% +/- 7%). Infusion of esmolol cardioplegia at constant pressure provided complete protection for 60, 75, and 90 minutes (104% +/- 5%, 95% +/- 5%, and 95% +/- 3%, respectively), whereas protection with constant-flow esmolol cardioplegic infusion was significantly decreased at ischemic durations longer than 60 minutes. This decrease in efficacy of constant-flow esmolol cardioplegia was associated with increasing coronary perfusion pressure leading to myocardial injury. CONCLUSIONS: Oxygenation of esmolol cardioplegia (Krebs-Henseleit buffer plus 1.0 mmol/L esmolol) was essential for optimal myocardial protection. Multidose infusion of oxygenated esmolol cardioplegia provided good myocardial protection during extended periods of normothermic ischemia. Esmolol cardioplegia may provide an efficacious alternative to hyperkalemia.     

缺血后处理对缺血-再灌注心肌的保护作用及其与线粒体ATP敏感性钾通道的关系

目的探讨缺血后处理（IPo）的心肌保护作用及与心肌线粒体三磷酸腺苷（ATP）敏感性钾通道（mitoKATP）的关系,为药物后处理的研发提供依据。方法40只Wistar大鼠,建立大鼠离体心脏Langendorff灌注模型,采用随机数字表法分为5组,每组8只,正常对照组（NC组）：用K-H液持续灌注100min,不做任何处理;缺血-再灌注（I/R）组：全心缺血40min,再灌注60min;IPo组：全心缺血40min,再灌注10s,缺血10s,反复6次,然后持续再灌注58min;5-羟基癸酸（5-HD）组：全心缺血40min后,先用含5-HD（100μmol/L）的K-H液再灌注15min,再用不含5-HD的K-H液再灌注45min;IPo＋5-HD组：全心缺血40min后,先用含5-HD（100μmol/L）的K-H液再灌注10s,缺血10s,反复6次,再用含5-HD的K-H液持续灌注13min,然后用不含5-HD的K-H液再灌注45min。观察比较各组心功能、冠状动脉流量（CF）、冠状动脉流出液中心肌肌钙蛋白I（cTnI）含量、心肌梗死（AMI）面积和心肌细胞超微结构改变。结果再灌注末IPo组左心室发展压（74.3±3.3mmHgvs.57.1±3.3mmHg,t=13.00,P=0.000）、＋dp/dtmax（1706.6±135.6mmHg/svs.1313.3±96.2mmHg/s,t=6.28,P=0.000）、-dp/dtmax（1132.8±112.1mmHg/svs.575.7±67.7mmHg/s,t=13.48,P=0.000）、CF（6.49±0.30ml/minvs.3.70±0.24ml/min,t=28.60,P=0.000）与I/R组比较均升高;左心室舒张期末内压（10.9±1.7mmHgvs.26.2±1.5mmHg,t=-19.21,P=0.000）,冠状动脉流出液中cTnI含量（0.62±0.01ng/mlvs.0.71±0.01ng/ml,t=-12.00,P=0.000）均降低,AMI面积与I/R组比较减少20.8%（P〈0.05）。IPo＋5-HD组对心肌的保护作用与IPo组相似,但作用轻于IPo组。电子显微镜观察结果表明,IPo和IPo＋5-HD可减轻I/R引起的心肌纤维和线粒体损伤。结论IPo对I/R心肌有保护作用,其作用与mitoKATP的激活有关。     

Postischemic infusion of 17-beta-estradiol protects myocardial function and viability

BACKGROUND: Females demonstrate improved cardiac recovery after ischemia/reperfusion injury compared with males. Attenuation of myocardial dysfunction with preischemic estradiol suggests that estrogen may be an important mediator of this cardioprotection. However, it remains unclear whether post-injury estradiol may have clinical potential in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. We hypothesize that postischemic administration of 17beta-estradiol will decrease myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and improve left ventricular cardiac function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult male Sprague Dawley rat hearts (n = 20) (Harlan, Indianapolis, IN) were isolated, perfused with Krebs-Henseleit solution via Langendorff model, and subjected to 15 min of equilibration, 25 min of warm ischemia, and 40 min reperfusion. Experimental hearts received postischemic 17beta-estradiol infusion, 1 nm (n = 4), 10 nm (n = 4), 25 nm (n = 4), or 50 nm (n = 4), throughout reperfusion. Control hearts (n = 4) were infused with perfusate vehicle. RESULTS: Postischemic recovery of left ventricular developed pressure was significantly greater with 1 nm (51.6% +/- 7.4%) and 10 nm estradiol (47.7% +/- 8.6%) than with vehicle (37.8% +/- 9.7%) at end reperfusion. There was also greater recovery of the end diastolic pressure with 1 nm (47.8 +/- 4.0 mmHg) and 10 nm estradiol (54.0 +/- 4.0) compared with vehicle (75.3 +/- 7.5). Further, 1 nm and 10 nm estrogen preserved coronary flow after ischemia and decreased coronary effluent lactated dehydrogenase compared with controls. Estrogen at 25 nm and 50 nm did not provide additional benefit in terms of functional recovery. Estrogen at all concentrations increased extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS: Postischemic infusion of 17beta-estradiol protects myocardial function and viability. The attractive potential for the clinical application of postischemic estrogen therapy warrants further study to elucidate the mechanistic pathways and differences between males and females.     

Influence of pre-existing ischemia on recovery from chemical cardioplegia. A study on pig hearts in an isolated blood-perfused model.

The impact of prior cardiac ischemia on recovery from chemical cardioplegia was investigated in pig hearts. Group I hearts were subjected to 9-min normothermic ischemia before the start of chemical cardioplegia. After 180 min of induced cardiac arrest, all hearts were reperfused and monitored for 120 min in a blood-perfused Langendorff model. Consistent with left ventricular performance, myocardial oxygen uptake was significantly lower in group I than in the other hearts during the first 60 min of reperfusion. Lactate elimination was significantly higher in group I at the start of reperfusion, but showed no intergroup difference after 25 min. Nor was intergroup difference found in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, total myocardial flow or glucose extraction fraction during reperfusion. The mitochondrial ultrastructure was identical in the two groups before chemical cardioplegia. During cardioplegia it deteriorated in group I but normalized in group II. During reperfusion these circumstances were reversed. Although precardioplegic ischemia thus significantly impaired left ventricular performance during early recovery, with corresponding effects on metabolism and ultrastructure, stable performance during reperfusion indicated that the ischemic injury did not worsen.     

Reactive hyperemia during early reperfusion as a determinant of improved functional recovery in ischemic preconditioned rat hearts

OBJECTIVE: Our study was undertaken to clarify the impact of the shear stress-induced reactive hyperemia (associated with reperfusion) in preconditioning-mediated protection. METHODS: In control rat hearts, a 40-minute preischemic perfusion (constant pressure: 70 mm Hg) period was followed by 25-minute global low-flow ischemia (constant flow: 0.3 mL/min) and 30-minute reperfusion (constant pressure). As preconditioning protocol, hearts underwent 2 cycles of 5-minute no-flow ischemia/5-minute reperfusion. RESULTS: Although coronary vasodilation in response to shear stress is severely impaired after global low-flow ischemia and reperfusion, it is fully preserved by ischemic preconditioning concomitantly with an improvement of left ventricular developed pressure. Restricting coronary peak flow to 100% of baseline at reperfusion reduced left ventricular recovery to the control level. N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester affects the restoration of reperfusion-reactive hyperemia and the improvement of contractile recovery afforded by ischemic preconditioning. However, if the time course of hyperemia was restored by forcibly reperfusing to 150% of baseline for 10 minutes and, therefore, by restricting final peak flow to 80% of baseline for 20 minutes, contractile function recovered to a high degree despite the presence of N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester. CONCLUSION: We conclude that wall stretch and shear stress during reperfusion are necessary for the mediation phase of preconditioning.     

Myocardial protective effects of the class Ic antiarrhythmic agent flecainide

The class Ic antiarrhythmic agent flecainide has recently become available in this country for management of ventricular arrhythmias. The pharmacologic and electrophysiologic features of this class of drug--marked sodium channel blockade producing inhibition of phase 0 of the myocardial action potential, moderate blockade of slow inward (calcium) channels, and general lack of systemic toxicity--suggest that these agents may exert significant myocardial protective effects. This hypothesis was tested in isolated, perfused rat hearts subjected to 30 minutes of global normothermic ischemia followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion after pretreatment with (1) Krebs-Henseleit buffer (n = 7); (2) Krebs-Henseleit buffer with potassium adjusted to 20.9 mmol/L with potassium chloride (n = 10); and (3) Krebs-Henseleit buffer plus flecainide acetate 50 mg/L (0.12 mmol/L) (n = 11). Severity of ischemic injury was assessed by time to ischemic contracture: 9.9 +/- 1.3 (Krebs-Henseleit buffer), 18.4 +/- 1.1 (potassium chloride), and 25.4 +/- 1.0 (flecainide) minutes (mean +/- standard error of the mean) (p less than 0.05 among all groups). Functional recovery after ischemia and reperfusion was measured by developed pressure (expressed as percent of preischemic control): 19.6 +/- 5.4 (Krebs-Henseleit buffer), 70.8 +/- 3.2 (potassium chloride), and 67.3 +/- 2.7 (flecainide). These results suggest that class Ic agents afford significant myocardial protection from global normothermic ischemia.     

Adverse effects of low-pressure reperfusion after hypothermic cardioplegia in normal and hypertrophic hearts.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of low-pressure and high-pressure reperfusion, with and without ventricular fibrillation, on the recovery of hypertrophic and normal hearts after hypothermic cardioplegia. Fourteen hearts rendered hypertrophic by valvular aortic stenosis and 18 normal canine hearts were subjected to 1 hour of cardioplegic arrest at 28 degrees C during cardiopulmonary bypass. Each heart was then reperfused at a coronary pressure of either 40 mm Hg (low) or 80 mm Hg (high), initially in the empty beating state and then during ventricular fibrillation. Low-pressure reperfusion produced left ventricular subendocardial ischemia in hypertrophic and in normal hearts, shown by marked depression of subendocardial blood flow, myocardial pH, and myocardial oxygen consumption. In hypertrophic hearts the ischemia was more severe and resulted in a persistent depression of left ventricular function and myocardial oxygen consumption even when coronary pressure was returned to normal levels. High-pressure reperfusion was associated with rapid and complete recovery of myocardial metabolism and function in hypertrophic and in normal hearts. During low-pressure reperfusion, ventricular fibrillation exacerbated ischemia in hypertrophic and in normal hearts. During high-pressure reperfusion, a short period of ventricular fibrillation produced no adverse effects either in hypertrophic or in normal hearts. We conclude that low-pressure reperfusion produces subendocardial ischemia in normal and in hypertrophic hearts even in the empty beating state; in hypertrophic hearts it also impairs recovery of myocardial metabolism and function. The adverse effects of low-pressure reperfusion are exacerbated by ventricular fibrillation.     

Global myocardial ischemia and reperfusion impair endothelium-dependent relaxations to aggregating platelets in the canine coronary artery. A possible cause of vasospasm after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Experiments were designed to determine whether endothelial cell injury contributes to increased coronary vascular tone after global cardiac ischemia and reperfusion. Canine hearts were exposed to global ischemia for 45 minutes and were reperfused for 60 minutes. Rings (5 to 6 mm long) of the left anterior descending coronary artery from reperfused hearts and from normal (control) hearts were suspended for isometric force measurement in organ chambers containing physiologic salt solution (37 degrees C, and 95% oxygen and 5% carbon dioxide). After contraction with prostaglandin F2 alpha, reperfused coronary arteries had significant impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxations to aggregating platelets (52% +/- 12% relaxation versus 102% +/- 11% for control segments; p less than 0.05). Reperfused arterial rings also exhibited impaired endothelium-dependent relaxations to the receptor-dependent agonist acetylcholine and the platelet-derived compounds adenosine diphosphate and serotonin. Importantly, endothelium-dependent relaxations to the non-receptor-dependent agonist A23187 were normal after ischemia and reperfusion. Quiescent (noncontracted) reperfused arterial rings lost the ability to counteract the constrictive effect of aggregating platelets on the coronary vascular smooth muscle (24% +/- 7% contraction versus 5% +/- 2% relaxation for control segments; p less than 0.05). Endothelium-independent contractions to potassium chloride and prostaglandin F2 alpha were similar in reperfused and normal arteries. Also, endothelium-independent relaxations to nitric oxide and isoproterenol were comparable in reperfused arteries and normal vessels. Thus global cardiac ischemia and reperfusion impair the normal endothelium-dependent relaxations to aggregating platelets and other receptor-dependent vasoactive drugs. This impairment of platelet-mediated coronary vasodilation may explain increased coronary vascular tone after cardiopulmonary bypass and could be an important pathophysiologic mechanism of postoperative coronary vasospasm.     

The effectiveness of ischemic preconditioning on myocardial protection and comparison with K(+) cardioplegia

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of ischemic preconditioning on myocardial protection and to compare this method to K(+) crystalloid cardioplegia. Langendorff perfused isolated working rat hearts were used in the following groups. After 20 min of stabilisation, 30 hearts were divided into three groups. In group I (control, n=10), hearts were arrested with cold (+4 degrees C) Krebs-Henseleit (K-H) solution, in group II (cardioplegia, n=10) hearts were arrested with cold K(+) cardioplegia solution, and in group III (preconditioning, n=10) hearts were subjected to 5 min normothermic ischemia followed by 5 min reperfusion then arrested with cold K-H solution. All hearts were subjected to 30 min of global ischemia (24 degrees C) and 40 min of reperfusion. Hemodynamic measurements were performed with a left ventricular latex balloon using a data acquisition system. Creatine kinase (CK-MB) washout and Troponin I (cTnI) levels were determined from the coronary effluents. There was no significant difference among the three groups in any of the parameters (hemodynamic and biochemical) measured at the end of stabilisation period. During reperfusion, functional recovery and coronary flow were significantly improved in K(+) cardioplegia and preconditioned groups compared with control group. CK-MB washout and cTnI levels were significantly lower in groups II and III compared with group I at the reperfusion. However no significant difference was observed between K(+) cardioplegia and preconditioned groups among biochemical and hemodynamic parameters and coronary flow at the post-ischemic period. In conclusion, ischemic preconditioning is as effective as K(+) cardioplegia on myocardial protection and recovery of myocardial function during reperfusion.     

Insulin improves functional and metabolic recovery of reperfused working rat heart

Background. Glucose, insulin, and potassium solution improves left ventricular function in refractory pump failure. Direct effects of insulin on the heart cannot be determined in vivo. We hypothesized that insulin has a direct positive inotropic effect on the reperfused heart.

Methods. Isolated working rat hearts were perfused with buffer containing glucose (5 mmol/L) plus oleate (1.2 mmol/L). Hearts were subjected to 15 minutes of ischemia and reperfused with or without insulin (100 μU/mL) for 40 minutes. Epinephrine (1 μmol/L) was added for the last 20 minutes.

Results. Hearts recovered 51.1% of preischemic cardiac power in the absence and 76.4% in the presence of insulin (p < 0.05). Whereas oleate oxidation remained unchanged, glucose uptake and oxidation increased during reperfusion with epinephrine (p < 0.01). This increase was significantly greater when hearts were reperfused in the presence of insulin (p < 0.01). Insulin also prevented an epinephrine-induced glycogen breakdown during reperfusion (p < 0.05).

Conclusions. Insulin has a direct positive inotropic effect on postischemic rat heart. This effect is additive to epinephrine and occurs without delay. Increased rates of glucose oxidation and net glycogen synthesis are more protracted.     

Beneficial effect of tetrahydrobiopterin on ischemia-reperfusion injury in isolated perfused rat hearts

OBJECTIVE: It has recently been proposed that nitric oxide synthase, in the presence of suboptimal levels of tetrahydrobiopterin, an essential cofactor of this enzyme, might favor increased production of oxygen radicals. The aim of this study was to clarify whether supplement with tetrahydrobiopterin would exert a cardioprotective effect against ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS: Isolated perfused rat hearts were subjected to 30 minutes of global ischemia and 30 minutes of reperfusion at 37 degrees C. Hearts were treated with tetrahydrobiopterin or vehicle for 5 minutes just before ischemia and during the first 5 minutes of the reperfusion period. Effects of tetrahydrobiopterin on left ventricular function, myocardial contents of lipid peroxidation and high-energy phosphates, and levels of lactate dehydrogenase and nitrite plus nitrate in perfusate during ischemia and after reperfusion were estimated and further compared with those of superoxide dismutase plus catalase or L-ascorbic acid. RESULTS: Tetrahydrobiopterin and superoxide dismutase plus catalase both improved contractile and metabolic abnormalities in reperfused hearts. On the other hand, L-ascorbic acid at a dose having an equipotent radical scavenging activity with tetrahydrobiopterin did not significantly affect the postischemic changes. Although tetrahydrobiopterin and superoxide dismutase plus catalase significantly alleviated ischemic contracture during ischemia, diminished perfusate levels of nitrite plus nitrate after reperfusion were restored only with tetrahydrobiopterin. CONCLUSION: Results demonstrated that tetrahydrobiopterin lessens ischemia-reperfusion injury in isolated perfused rat hearts, probably independent of its intrinsic radical scavenging action. The cardioprotective effect of tetrahydrobiopterin implies that tetrahydrobiopterin could be a novel and effective therapeutic option in the treatment of ischemia-reperfusion injury.     

Reduced tolerance of global ischemia in the hypertrophied heart

OBJECTIVE: Reduced coronary reserve during reperfusion may cause postischemic diastolic dysfunction in pressure-overload-induced hypertrophy. We studied the effect of coronary flow regulation (simulated hyperemic or depressed flow) on postischemic cardiac function during reperfusion. METHODS: Left ventricular pressure overload was induced in 4-week-old rats by abdominal aortic constriction. At 6 weeks of age, isolated Langendorff-perfused hearts (perfusion pressures: 75 mmHg in controls and 110 mmHg in the aortic constriction group) were subjected to hypothermic global ischemia (15 degrees C, 210 min), followed by 2 types of coronary flow regulation during the initial 20 min of reperfusion--manipulated high flow in control hearts (group I), manipulated low flow in control hearts (group II), manipulated high flow in aortic constriction hearts (group III), and manipulated low flow in aortic constriction hearts (group IV) (n = 6/group), and then constant pressure perfusion during the subsequent 45 min of reperfusion. Cardiac function was measured using an isovolumic balloon in the pre- and postischemic periods. RESULTS: Aortic constriction hearts exhibited greater left ventricular end-diastolic pressure than did control hearts. The increase in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure did not differ between group I (3 +/- 2 mmHg) and group II (-1 +/- 1 mmHg) or between group III (29 +/- 5 mmHg) and group IV (30 +/- 6 mmHg). No difference was seen in postischemic recovery of left ventricular systolic pressure between high and low flow groups in control and aortic constriction hearts. CONCLUSION: Manipulations in coronary flow during reperfusion did not affect postischemic cardiac function in control or aortic constriction hearts, suggesting that depressed coronary flow during early reperfusion is not a primary cause of postischemic diastolic dysfunction in the hypertrophied myocardium.     

Failure of oxygen-free radical scavengers to improve postischemic liver function

Previous investigations have demonstrated reduction of postischemic organ injury with improved flow rates following administration of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) just before reperfusion. Presumably these oxygen-free radical scavengers provide protection against oxygen-free radicals produced during reoxygenation, but the site of action remains unclear. The present study was designed to determine the effect of SOD/CAT on hepatic function following global ischemia independent of flow. Livers obtained from Sprague-Dawley rats fasted 24 hours were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit buffer containing 5 mM lactate for 130 minutes. Following a 30-minute control period, livers were subjected to 55 minutes of warm, global ischemia. The control group (N = 12) was reperfused under oxygenated conditions for an additional 45 minutes. Two other groups (N = 9; N = 4) were reperfused under identical conditions with administration of 150,000 U/L or 450,000 U/L of SOD/CAT 3 minutes before reperfusion. Hepatic flow returned to normal levels following ischemia, but gluconeogenic activity and bile production remained significantly depressed. No significant recovery of gluconeogenic activity or bile production was noted when SOD/CAT was administered before reperfusion. These results demonstrate that in the absence of flow augmentation SOD/CAT do not provide protection from oxygen-free radicals following global ischemia in the isolated rat liver. This implies that previously reported reductions of postischemic reperfusion injury, where blood flow improved as well, may be due to oxygen-free radical scavenging within the vascular network resulting in enhanced organ perfusion and, therefore, improved organ function.     

Age-related changes in the ability of hypothermia and cardioplegia to protect ischemic rabbit myocardium

Hypothermia combined with pharmacologic cardioplegia protects the globally ischemic adult heart, but this benefit may not extend to children; poor postischemic recovery of function and increased mortality may result when this method of myocardial protection is used in children. The relative susceptibilities to ischemia-induced injury modified by hypothermia alone and by hypothermia plus cardioplegia were assessed in isolated perfused immature (7- to 10-day-old) and mature (6- to 24-month-old) rabbit hearts. Hearts were perfused aerobically with Krebs-Henseleit buffer in the working mode for 30 minutes, and aortic flow was recorded. This was followed by 3 minutes of hypothermic (14 degrees C) coronary perfusion with either Krebs or St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegic solution No. 2, followed by hypothermic (14 degrees C) global ischemia (mature hearts 2 and 4 hours; immature hearts 2, 4, and 6 hours). Hearts were reperfused for 15 minutes in the Langendorff mode and 30 minutes in the working mode, and recovery of postischemic function was measured. Hypothermia alone provided excellent protection of the ischemic immature rabbit heart, with recovery of aortic flow after 2 and 4 hours of ischemia at 97% +/- 3% and 93% +/- 4% (mean +/- standard deviation) of the preischemic value. Mature hearts protected with hypothermia alone recovered only minimally, with 22% +/- 16% recovery of preischemic aortic flow after 2 hours; none were able to generate flow at 4 hours. St. Thomas' Hospital solution No. 2 improved postischemic recovery of aortic flow after 2 hours of ischemia in mature hearts from 22% +/- 16% to 65% +/- 6% (p less than 0.05), but actually decreased postischemic aortic flow in immature hearts from 97% +/- 3% to 86% +/- 10% (p less than 0.05). To investigate any dose-dependency of this effect, we subjected hearts from both age groups to reperfusion with either Krebs solution or St. Thomas' Hospital solution No. 2 for 3 minutes every 30 minutes throughout a 2-hour period of ischemia. Reexposure to Krebs solution during ischemia did not affect postischemic function in either age group. Reexposure of immature hearts to St. Thomas' Hospital solution No. 2 caused a decremental loss of postischemic function in contrast to incremental protection with multidose cardioplegia in the mature heart. We conclude that immature rabbit hearts are significantly more tolerant of ischemic injury than mature rabbit hearts and that, unexpectedly, St. Thomas' Hospital solution No. 2 damages immature rabbit hearts.