A hydroxylated analog of the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, carvedilol, affords exceptional antioxidant protection to postischemic rat hearts.

The antioxidant and cardioprotective effects of the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, carvedilol, and its hydroxylated analog. BM-910228, were compared using the postischemic rat heart model. Hearts were infused with either agent (0.01, 0.10, or 10 nM final, or drug-free infusate) for 10 min prior to 30 min global ischemia, and also during the initial 15 min of reperfusion. Recovery of postischemic hemodynamic parameters (left ventricular systolic and developed pressures, mean diastolic pressure, cardiac output, coronary flow rate, and cardiac pressure-volume work), and the extent of postischemic tissue lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) loss, lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) formation, and lipid peroxidation (LPO)-derived free radical production were assessed and compared among the treatment groups. The depressive pharmacological properties (beta- and alpha-blockade) of both agents masked the extent of postischemic hemodynamic recovery, except at the lowest dose (10 pM) of the analog, which provided significant improvements in systolic and developed pressures, and cardiac work. Treatment with both agents provided significant dose-dependent reductions in postischemic LOOH formation and lipid alkoxyl radical production, as determined by electron spin resonance spectroscopy and alpha-phenyl-tert-butylnitrone. (PBN) spin trapping (PBN/alkoxyl adduct hyperfine splitting alpha N = 13.63 G and alpha H = 1.93 G). Although both agents reduced oxidative injury, the hydroxylated analog was clearly the superior antioxidant (equipotent at doses two to three orders of magnitude lower) compared to the parent compound. This was also reflected with respect to three orders of magnitude lower) compared to the parent compound. This was also reflected with respect to drug-mediated improvement in myocardial preservation (reduced LDH release), which paralleled the antioxidant protective effects. Because neither agent displayed significant primary radical scavenging ability at doses (< or = 10 nM), which did provide substantial inhibition of postischemic LOOH and alkoxyl formation, our data suggest that the antioxidant properties of carvedilol and its analog are mediated primarily through a LPO chair-breaking mechanism. Moreover, the significant antioxidant protection afforded by the analog BM-910228 at subnanomolar levels places this agent into an exclusive category reserved for exceptionally potent antioxidants.