Possible role of hydrogen sulfide on the preservation of donor rat hearts.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to observe the preservative effect of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on donor rat hearts.


METHODS
The hearts of 24 Sprague-Dawley rats were perfused on a Langendorff perfusion column for 30 minutes. We calculated and recorded the left ventricular-developed pressure (LVDP), and positive and negative derivatives of left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP; +dP/dt and -dP/dt). Hearts were then arrested and stored for 6 hours at 4 degrees C: group 1, Krebs-Henseleit (KH) solution; group 2, KH solution with 1 micromol/L NaHS; group 3, KH solution with 1 micromol/L NaHS and 10 micromol/L glibenclamide; group 4, St. Thomas II solution. Hearts were transferred back to the Langendorff column. After stabilizing for 30 minutes, LV performance was assessed as before. The donor hearts were kept for pathological study including myocardial water ratio, ATP content, and myocyte apoptosis index.


RESULTS
The recovery rates of +dp/dtmax, -dp/dtmax, and LVDP of groups 2 and 4 were much better than those of groups 1 and 3. The hearts contracted immediately after reperfusion in group 4. Ventricular fibrillation was seen before contraction in the other 3 groups, with the longest duration in group. No significant difference in myocardial water ratio was found. The ATP content was the highest in group 2. Apoptosis was observed in the 4 groups with the lowest apoptosis index in group 2.


CONCLUSIONS
H2S has a protective effect on rat donor hearts at the concentration of 1 micromol/L. The protective effect is better than that of St. Thomas II solution. The protective effect of H2S can be blocked by glibenclamide.
Hu
X
X
Cardiovascular Surgery Department, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, XI'an, People's Republic of China.
Li
T
T
Bi
S
S
Jin
Z
Z
Zhou
G
G
Bai
C
C
Li
L
L
Cui
Q
Q
Liu
W
W
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide