title: Effects of protamine on myocyte contractile function and beta-adrenergic responsiveness.
abstract: The use of protamine sulfate in patients has been associated with severe circulatory collapse and myocardial failure. However, the exact mechanisms responsible for these reactions to protamine remain unclear. Accordingly, we examined the effect of protamine on isolated myocyte contractile function. Indexes of isolated myocyte contractile function, percent shortening, and velocity of shortening were examined using videomicroscopy. Porcine cardiocytes (n = 75) were studied at baseline and in the presence of 80 micrograms/mL protamine. In addition, myocyte function was examined sequentially, first during treatment with 8 IU/mL heparin and then after the addition of a protamine dose sufficient to completely bind the heparin. The binding of heparin and protamine resulted in the formation of a heparin-protamine complex. The protamine concentration of 80 micrograms/mL is approximately equal to the serum concentration of protamine obtained in patients when administered in a dose of 5 mg/kg. In the presence of 80 micrograms/mL protamine, both percent shortening and velocity of shortening fell by more than 32% from baseline values (p < 0.05). The presence of either heparin alone or the heparin-protamine complex resulted in no change in baseline myocyte contractile measurements. Furthermore, to examine the effect of protamine on myocyte beta-adrenergic responsiveness a second series of experiments were performed. Myocyte contractile function was measured when 25 nmol/L isoproterenol was added to each of the protocols above. The presence of 80 micrograms/mL protamine resulted in a significant blunting of myocyte beta-adrenergic responsiveness. The presence of either heparin alone or the heparin-protamine complex resulted in no change in myocyte beta-adrenergic responsiveness.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Hird
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Zile
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Spinale
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology*; D011479:Protamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D011479:Protamines; D006493:Heparin; D007545:Isoproterenol