Stunned myocardium and oxygen free radicals--sarcolemmal membrane damage due to oxygen free radicals.

Reperfusion after reversible ischemia has been shown to result in prolonged depression of contractile function ("myocardial stunning"). Recent studies suggest that oxygen free radicals may mediate postischemic dysfunction. Since heart sarcolemmal membranes, which contain several types of enzymes, ion channels and receptors play important roles to maintain cell functions, the present study was undertaken to examine the effects of oxygen free radicals on heart sarcolemmal membrane functions in vitro. In the presence of a superoxide anion radical-generating system (2mM xanthine plus 0.03 U/ml xanthine oxidase), sarcolemmal Ca(2+)-stimulated ATPase activity and ATP-dependent Ca2+ accumulation were inhibited in an incubating time-dependent manner. Both lipid peroxidation (r = 0.82) and sulfhydryl group content (r = 0.95) showed significant correlations with Ca(2+)-stimulated ATPase activity. ATP-independent Ca2+ bindings were increased upon treating the membranes with xanthine plus xanthine oxidase. Voltage-dependent Ca(2+)-channels were also affected by oxygen free radicals. The maximal number of binding sites (Bmax) for [3H]-nitrendipine binding was depressed without any changes in dissociation constant (Kd). The effects of oxygen free radicals on adrenergic receptors were more complex. Bmax for [3H]-dihydroalprenolol (DHA) binding (beta-receptor) was increased whereas Bmax for [3H]-prazosin binding [alpha 1-receptor) was decreased after incubating the membrane with xanthine plus xanthine oxidase. Kd for [3H]-DHA or [3H]-prazosin binding was increased. Superoxide dismutase showed protective effects on the changes in these membrane functions due to xanthine plus xanthine oxidase. It is suggested that oxygen free radicals damage heart sarcolemmal membrane functions which may lead to cardiac dysfunction in the stunned myocardium.