title: Intact endothelial and contractile function of coronary artery after 8 hours of heart preservation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to investigate if adequate preservation of coronary artery endothelium-dependent relaxation and contractility may be obtained after 8 hours of non-ischemic heart preservation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Porcine hearts were perfused for 8 hours at 8 °C, either in cycles of 15 minutes perfusion and 60 minutes non-perfusion, or by continuous perfusion. The perfusate consisted of a cardioplegic, hyperoncotic nutrition solution with oxygenated red cells, and the perfusion pressure was 20 mmHg. In organ baths, coronary artery segments from the preserved hearts were studied and compared to fresh controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Endothelium-dependent relaxation and contractility were fully preserved after both intermittent and continuous perfusion, as compared to fresh controls. No myocardial edema was seen; water content of the myocardium was 79.5 ± 0.2%, 79.0 ± 0.4% and 79.0 ± 0.3% (ns) for fresh controls, intermittently perfused, and continuously perfused hearts, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intact endothelial and contractile function of coronary artery may be obtained after 8 hours of non-ischemic heart preservation.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery , Lund University, and Skåne University Hospital , Lund , Sweden.
authors.forename: Guangqi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery , Lund University, and Skåne University Hospital , Lund , Sweden.
authors.forename: Trygve
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sjöberg
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery , Lund University, and Skåne University Hospital , Lund , Sweden.
authors.forename: Qiuming
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery , Lund University, and Skåne University Hospital , Lund , Sweden.
authors.forename: Xiaoke
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery , Lund University, and Skåne University Hospital , Lund , Sweden.
authors.forename: Stig
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002314:Cardioplegic Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000601:surgery; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000601:surgery; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D000067268:Isolated Heart Preparation; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010477:Perfusion / Q000009:adverse effects; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013997:Time Factors; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000009:adverse effects; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002314:Cardioplegic Solutions; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions
keywords: Heart preservation; coronary contractility; coronary endothelial function