Protective effect of selenium in cardiac ischemia and reperfusion

The purpose of the present investigation was to establish whether pretreatment with selenium enhances the stores of selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase in the tissues and to verify if and to what extent alterations of mechanical and biochemical cardiac properties induced by ischemia in the myocardium may be thus prevented. Ten rats had sodium selenite (6 micrograms/day) added to their drinking water for 4 weeks, while 10 control rats received no treatment. At the end of 4 weeks, the hearts were perfused by the Langendorff technique with oxygenated Krebs-Henseleit solution at a rate of 10 ml/min for 30 minutes at 37 degrees C. Ischemia was then induced by reducing the perfusion to 1 ml/min for 60 minutes; reperfusion followed at the control rate for a further 30 minutes. Isometrically developed pressure and its maximum first derivative at different ventricular volumes was measured before and after the ischemic period. Lactate and creatine kinase activity were measured in the effluent throughout. Tissue concentrations of adenine nucleotides and creatine phosphate and lutathione peroxidase activity were estimated after reperfusion. The rats treated with selenium showed a wide-spread increase in the activity of Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase in all tissues. There was an improved recovery of ventricular contraction during reperfusion and an increased myocardial content of adenine nucleotides and creatine phosphate. During reperfusion, the loss of creatine kinase into the perfusate was less in the treated animals, and there was a similar trend for the production of lactate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)