Journal of molecular and cellular cardiology
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J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol. · Apr 1994
Brain-death-induced cardiac contractile dysfunction: studies of possible neurohormonal and blood-borne mediators.
The aim of these studies was to investigate the mechanism underlying the haemodynamic changes associated with brain death. The initial series of studies were to assess whether these changes involved some blood-borne factor. When control rats (n = 6) were exsanguinated whilst being simultaneously transfused with blood from rats that had been brain-dead for 60 min, their haemodynamic function did not deteriorate. ⋯ Finally, we used L-NAME and naloxone in an attempt to identify roles for nitric oxide and endogenous opioid peptides but were again unable to influence the cardiac events. In conclusion, the initial transient hyperdynamic response induced by brain death appears to be mediated through cardiac innervation and can be inhibited by beta-adrenoreceptor blockade. However, the autonomic nervous system, nitric oxide, endogenous opioid peptides and blood-borne factors do not appear to be involved in the subsequent deterioration of cardiac function.