title: Temporal relation of ATP-sensitive potassium-channel activation and contractility before cardioplegia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pharmacologic treatment using potassium-channel openers (PCOs) before cardioplegic arrest has been demonstrated to provide beneficial effects on left ventricular performance with subsequent reperfusion and rewarming. However, the PCO treatment interval necessary to provide protective effects during cardioplegic arrest remains to be defined. The present study was designed to determine the optimum period of PCO treatment that would impart beneficial effects on left ventricular myocyte contractility after simulated cardioplegic arrest.
  
  
  METHODS
  Left ventricular porcine myocytes were assigned randomly to three groups: (1) normothermic control = 37 degrees C for 2 hours; (2) cardioplegia = K+ (24 mEq/L) at 4 degrees C for 2 hours followed by reperfusion and rewarming; and (3) PCO and cardioplegia = 1 to 15 minutes of treatment with the PCO aprikalim (100 micromol/L) at 37 degrees C followed by hypothermic (4 degrees C) cardioplegic arrest and subsequent rewarming. Myocyte contractility was measured after rewarming by videomicroscopy. A minimum of 50 myocytes were examined at each treatment and time point.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Myocyte velocity of shortening was reduced after cardioplegic arrest and rewarming compared with normothermic controls (63+/-3 microm/s versus 32+/-2 microm/s, respectively; p < 0.05). With 3 minutes of PCO treatment, myocyte velocity of shortening was improved after cardioplegic arrest to values similar to those of normothermic controls (56+/-3 microm/s). Potassium channel opener treatment for less than 3 minutes did not impart a protective effect, and the protective effect was not improved further with more prolonged periods of PCO treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A brief interval of PCO treatment produced beneficial effects on left ventricular myocyte contractile function in a simulated model of cardioplegic arrest and rewarming. These results suggest that a brief period of PCO treatment may provide a strategy for myocardial protection during prolonged cardioplegic arrest in the setting of cardiac operation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425-2207, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hebbar
authors.forename: W V
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: Houck
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Zellner
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Dorman
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Spinale
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000502:physiology*; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D002314:Cardioplegic Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005905:Glyburide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006324:Heart Arrest, Induced; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007552:Isotonic Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015425:Myocardial Reperfusion; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology; D010847:Picolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011188:Potassium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011714:Pyrans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation; D017694:Rewarming; D000077331:Ringer's Solution; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D002314:Cardioplegic Solutions; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D010847:Picolines; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels; D011714:Pyrans; C061043:aprikalim; D000077331:Ringer's Solution; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D007545:Isoproterenol; D011188:Potassium; D005905:Glyburide