Mechanisms of attenuation of ischemic heart injury by means of a modified reperfusion

Mechanisms of attenuation of membrane injury and metabolic impairments in postischemic cardiomyocytes have been studied on a model of ischemic and reperfusion stress of rat heart using a modified early reperfusion. Optimization of the reperfusion infusate composition augmented recovery of cardiac pump and contractile function. This was accompanied by reduced release of lactate dehydrogenase activity and systems generating short-living reactive oxygen species into myocardial effluent and was associated with more efficient oxidative metabolism recovery and decreased losses of intracellular total creatine and amino acids pools. The results indicate perspectives of postischemic functional and metabolic myocardial injury correction by means of the controlled reperfusion.