[Crystalloid cardioplegia at different calcium concentration: its effect on immature rabbit myocardium]

To determine the myocardial protective effect of St. Thomas II cardioplegia at different calcium concentration on immature myocardium.

Isolated perfused neonatal rabbit hearts from three groups (the calcium concentration of St. Thomas II cardioplegia was modified: [Ca2+] 0.6 mmol/L; [Ca2+]1.2 mmol/L; [Ca2+]2.4 mmol/L) were subjected to 20 degrees C hypothermia, 90 minutes of global ischemia followed by 30 minutes reperfusion in Langendorff mode.

Although the recovery of LVDP, +/- dp/dtmax at calcium content of 2.4 mmol/L after 10 minutes of reperfusion was significantly higher than that at 0.6 and 1.2 mmol/L calcium (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively), the declined tendency of left ventricular hemodynamics in this group was detected after 20 minutes of reperfusion. By the end of 30-minute reperfusion, the left ventricular hemodynamic recovery at 2.4 mmol/L calcium did not differ from those at 0.6 mmol/L and 1.2 mmol/L calcium. Conversely, postischemic left ventricular functions at 0.6 and 1.2 mmol/L calcium were gradually improved during the 30 minutes reperfusion. Ca(2+)-ATPase activity at 2.4 mmol/L calcium showed significant increase (P < 0.01, P < 0.001), whereas ATP content was lower than that of other groups.

Calcium accumulated in extracellular space during ischemia enters myocardial cell via Ca2+ channel and Ca2+/Na+ exchange after reperfusion, activates Ca(2+)-ATPase, and finally accelerates adenosinetriphosphate (ATP) consumption induced by calcium, which would be responsible for the results of our study. We conclude that, from the point of view of myocardial cell energy metabolism, St. Thomas II cardioplegia at high calcium concentration can not provide immature myocardium with optimal myocardial protection.