Beneficial effect of EPC-K1 on the survival of warm ischemic damaged graft in rat cardiac transplantation.
A newly introduced compound, EPC-K1, represents a phosphate diester linkage of vitamin E and vitamin C. The effect of EPC-K1 on the reperfusion injury was evaluated in a heterotopic cardiac transplantation model using syngenic combination rats. Prior to the warm ischemia, 12mg EPC-K1/kg was administered intravenously to donor rats. After 15 min of warm ischemic time, hearts were harvested and perfused with 4 degrees C saline. After completion of the transplantation, recipient rats were also treated with intravenous 12 mg EPC-K1/kg, before reperfusion. Saline was used instead of EPC-K1 for both donors and recipients in the control group. On the 7th post-transplantation day, graft survival was 7 out of 8 in EPC-K1 group, versus 1 out of 9 in the control group (p < 0.001). Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance levels in the recipient serum, three hours after reperfusion, were significantly limited, in the group in which EPC-K1 was administered only to donors. But it was not possible to clarify whether the effect of EPC-K1 is primarily at the donor or recipient levels at this time. These results indicate that EPC-K1 may reduce reperfusion injury after cardiac transplantation. This beneficial effect may be mediated by the hydroxyl radical scavenging properties of EPC-K1.
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Iwakuni National Hospital, Japan.
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Tanemoto
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Sakagami
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Orita
D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000473:pathology*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D014810:Vitamin E; C066638:potassium ascorbyl tocopheryl phosphate; D001205:Ascorbic Acid