I.V. infusion of a drag-reducing polymer extracted from aloe vera prolonged survival time in a rat model of acute myocardial ischaemia.
BACKGROUND
I.V. infusion of drag-reducing polymers (DRPs) has been shown to improve survival time in animals subjected to haemorrhagic shock. We hypothesized that DRPs might prolong survival time in rats following acute myocardial ischaemia (AMI).


METHODS
Sixteen adult male rats were anaesthetized and mechanically ventilated. An i.v. infusion of either Dextran-40 2.5% (Control, n=8) or Dextran-40 2.5% containing 50 microg ml(-1) of an aloe vera-based DRP (DRP, n=8) was initiated at 3.5 ml h(-1). The left anterior descending coronary artery was ligated. Blood pressure, skin-tissue perfusion, and heart rate were monitored and arterial blood samples were analysed.


RESULTS
The mortality at 60 min following coronary ligation was 0% in the DRP group vs 50% in the control group (P=0.025). DRP-treated animals maintained higher mean arterial pressure [60.9 (5.1) vs 47.5 (5.1) mm Hg, P=0.004] and tissue perfusion [4.2 (3.4) vs 1.2 (0.5) TPU, P=0.029]. The DRP group trended towards better acid-base status with base excess [-5.0 (1.7) vs -8.1 (5.1) mmol litre(-1), P=0.083] and pH [7.42 (0.07) vs 7.35 (0.02), P=0.03].


CONCLUSIONS
Administration of nanomolar concentrations of aloe vera-based DRP prolonged survival time in animals with AMI. DRPs may offer a novel method to treat organ/tissue hypoperfusion.
Sakai
T
T
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Repko
B M
BM
Griffith
B P
BP
Waters
J H
JH
Kameneva
M V
MV
D000208:Acute Disease; D000504:Aloe; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010313:Partial Pressure; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011108:Polymers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015996:Survival Rate
D010936:Plant Extracts; D011108:Polymers; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen