Cardioprotective effects of the vasodilator/beta-adrenoceptor blocker, carvedilol, in two models of myocardial infarction in the rat.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of carvedilol, a beta-adrenergic blocker and vasodilator, in two models of ischemic myocardial damage in the rat. Following coronary artery occlusion for 0.5 h and reperfusion for 24 h (MI/R group), left ventricular (LV) injury was determined by planimetric analysis of triphenyltetrazolium chloride-stained tissue, and polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration was assessed by measuring myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. In the vehicle-treated MI/R group, infarct size was 14.2 +/- 1.3% of the LV (n = 16), and MPO activity was increased to 2.8 +/- 0.7 from 0.14 +/- 0.03 U/g tissue in the vehicle-treated sham-occluded group (p less than 0.01). Carvedilol (1 mg/kg i.v., 15 min prior to coronary artery occlusion and at 3.5 h following reperfusion) reduced myocardial infarct size to 7.5 +/- 1.2% of the LV (n = 14; p less than 0.01) and attenuated the increase in MPO activity to 1.4 +/- 0.4 U/g tissue (p less than 0.05). A lower dose of carvedilol (i.e. 0.3 mg/kg i.v.) did not limit myocardial infarct size or the increase in MPO activity. In a model of permanent coronary artery occlusion, 24-hour survival was reduced from 85% in sham-occluded animals (n = 38) to 44% in the vehicle-treated MI group (n = 84; p less than 0.01). In comparison to the vehicle-treated MI group, carvedilol (0.3 mg/kg i.v., 15 min prior to coronary artery occlusion and 1 mg/kg 4 h after occlusion) improved survival by 55% (n = 64; p less than 0.05, compared to the vehicle-treated MI group), whereas the same dose of propranolol (n = 42) had no significant effect on survival. These results indicate that carvedilol reduces myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, and significantly improves survival in a permanent coronary artery occlusion model of myocardial infarction.
Smith
E F
EF
SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, Department of Pharmacology, King of Prussia, PA 19406.
Griswold
D E
DE
Hillegass
L M
LM
Slivjak
M J
MJ
Davis
P A
PA
DiMartino
M J
MJ
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077261:Carvedilol; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002227:Carbazoles; D011412:Propanolamines; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000077261:Carvedilol; D009195:Peroxidase