Sulphinpyrazone reduces endocardial injury and mural thrombosis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of sulphinpyrazone, a drug which stabilises endothelial cell membranes, in reducing endocardial injury and mural thrombosis produced by lactic acid in the left ventricle.


METHODS
The left ventricular endocardium of isolated beating rat hearts, perfused via the aorta with oxygenated Krebs-Henseleit buffer, was exposed for up to 4 h to additional lactic acid (pH 6.4), with and without sulphinpyrazone (100 ng x ml-1). After flushing with buffer, passage of 10 ml blood, and further flushing, the hearts were fixed by coronary perfusion and the endocardium examined by scanning electron microscopy.


METHODS
Hearts from 48 male albino Wistar rats, weight 270-380 g, were used.


RESULTS
Morphometric analysis of the surface of the papillary muscles showed that lactic acid caused membrane injury in endothelial cells, up to 30% of which exfoliated. However when sulphinpyrazone was present, endothelial cell damage was reduced and there was up to 75% reduction in the area of exposed basal lamina or connective tissue. This was associated with a corresponding reduction in the extent of platelet adhesion (79%) and thrombus formation (94%).


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that sulphinpyrazone has the potential to reduce the risk of mural thrombosis following endocardial injury.
Carter
G
G
Department of Pathology, University of Auckland School of Medicine, New Zealand.
Gavin
J B
JB
D000818:Animals; D004699:Endocardium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004727:Endothelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007773:Lactates / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009206:Myocardium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010973:Platelet Adhesiveness / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013442:Sulfinpyrazone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors
D007773:Lactates; D013442:Sulfinpyrazone