Enhancement of crystalloid cardioplegic protection against global normothermic ischemia by superoxide dismutase plus catalase but not diltiazem in the isolated, working rat heart.

Oxygen-derived free radicals and intracellular calcium overload have been implicated as mediators of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. We hypothesized that free radical scavengers or calcium channel blockers could enhance the protection afforded the isolated, working rat heart by crystalloid cardioplegia against this type of injury at 37 degrees C. Hearts from 42 male rats in seven groups (n = 6) were studied in an isolated, working heart preparation measuring aortic flow (ml/min/gm dry wt), peak systolic pressure (mm Hg), coronary artery flow (ml/min/gm dry wt), and calculated coronary vascular resistance (dyne.sec.cm-5/gm dry wt). Creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase release were measured before ischemia and at various times during the postischemic reperfusion period. Time-matched control hearts (group 1) were perfused for 2 hours. After finding that 30 minutes of ischemia and 10 minutes of reperfusion (group 2) produced significant (p less than 0.01) functional impairment that was completely protected (group 3) by a preischemic bolus of St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegic solution, we again found significant (p less than 0.01) functional impairment after 40 minutes of ischemia and 10 minutes (group 4) or 20 minutes (group 5) of reperfusion despite a preischemic bolus of St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegic solution. Diltiazem (10 mg/L) plus St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegic solution (group 6) did not significantly (p less than 0.01) enhance functional recovery. Addition of superoxide dismutase plus catalase (200 microns/ml) (group 7) produced marked improvement in functional recovery that did not differ significantly (p less than 0.01) from control results (group 1). The creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase data strongly supported the preceding functional data. Coronary flow and vascular resistance were not significantly (p less than 0.01) changed from control values in any group. We conclude that the addition of superoxide dismutase and catalase but not diltiazem to St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegic solution can significantly enhance myocardial protection against normothermic ischemia/reperfusion injury. This implicates oxygen-derived free radicals as mediators of this type of injury.