• M Galiñanes, T Murashita, and D J Hearse.
• Department of Cardiovascular Research, Rayne Institute, St. Thomas' Hospital, London, U.K.
• J. Heart Lung Transplant. 1992 Jul 1; 11 (4 Pt 1): 624-35.

AbstractWe have compared the protective properties of three cardioplegic solutions (St. Thomas' Hospital, University of Wisconsin, and Bretschneider) for the long-term hypothermic preservation of the rat heart. Hearts (n = 8 per group) were excised and arrested by an infusion (10 ml at 4 degrees C) of cardioplegic solution. After 4, 6, or 8 hours of storage at 4 degrees C, they were reperfused in the Langendorff mode for 15 minutes and then in the working mode for 20 minutes. After 4 hours of storage, postischemic cardiac output in the St. Thomas' and Wisconsin groups was 68.8 +/- 4.6 and 63.7 +/- 3.0 ml/min, respectively (NS); nonischemic aerobic control cardiac output was 83.2 +/- 2.6 ml/min. In the Bretschneider group, cardiac output was only 43.4 +/- 3.6 ml/min (p less than 0.05 compared to the other groups). Extending storage to 6 or 8 hours led to further decreases in recovery of function in all groups (cardiac output in the St. Thomas' and Wisconsin groups was 53.7 +/- 3.2 and 52.2 +/- 5.1 ml/min after 6 hours and 39.9 +/- 2.2 and 45.8 +/- 2.5 ml/min after 8 hours, respectively; NS). With the Bretschneider solution the cardiac output was again lower (37.6 +/- 3.0 and 22.3 +/- 4.1 ml/min, respectively). Creatine kinase leakage tended to be greater in the Bretschneider group, but adenosine triphosphate and creatine phosphate contents were well preserved in all groups. In further studies, hearts (n = 8 per group) were infused with the three solutions and stored at 4 degrees C for 8 or 10 hours; they were then heterotopically transplanted into the abdomens of homozygous recipients. After 24 hours of reperfusion, the hearts were excised and taken for ex vivo functional and metabolic studies. Recovery of contractile function was similar in all groups, but the tissue content of adenosine triphosphate tended to be greater in the St. Thomas' and Wisconsin groups (15.0 +/- 1.5 and 14.7 +/- 1.0 mumol/gm dry weight in the 8-hour storage groups and 12.1 +/- 1.2 and 11.7 +/- 0.8 mumol/gm dry weight in the 10-hour storage groups, respectively) than in the Bretschneider groups (12.3 +/- 0.9 and 9.1 +/- 1.6 mumol/gm dry weight, respectively). Creatine phosphate content recovered completely in all groups. We conclude that all three solutions afford similar protection to the hypothermically stored rat heart, but that the St. Thomas' Hospital and University of Wisconsin solutions are marginally superior to the Bretschneider solution.

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