Cardioprotection during heart ischemia-reperfusion.

Oxygen reactive species play a significant role in reperfusion tissue damages. In this study we aimed to investigate the mechanisms of injury regarding changes of neutrophil function. In our experiments the left descending coronary artery (LAD) was ligated in Beagle dogs for 1 hour followed by one hour reperfusion. Animals were divided into two groups: Group I. dogs (n = 10) served as control: Group II. the animals (n = 10) were treated by cardioprotective drug Bisaramil. Peripheral blood samples were taken for neutrophil isolation before operation and subsequent reperfusion (5 min, 1 hour). The stimulated superoxide radical generating capacity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) was measured. The lipid peroxidation (MDA), amount of reduced glutathione (GSH) and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured in non-ischemic and ischemic parts of left ventricle. There was no significant changes either in control or in treated animals in respect to changes of neutrophil radical production after one hour LAD ligature, however there was a significant discrepancy (p < 0.001) between control and treated animals following a 1 hour reperfusion. The values of MDA in the ischemic-area increased characteristically in the Group I. parallel with decrease of scavenger GSH and SOD. In contrast in Group II., where depleted PMN radical production was observed endogenous scavengers were preserved on a higher level. In summary we can conclude that diminished superoxide radical production of circulating neutrophils during reperfusion has beneficial effects on tissue injury caused especially by free radicals.