Failure of mannitol to reduce myocardial infarct size in the baboon

The aim was to determine whether mannitol, previously shown to have several myocardial protective properties, could reduce the myocardial infarct size after coronary occlusion in the baboon.

Anaesthetised baboons underwent a 2 h transient coronary artery occlusion. Each was randomised into one of two groups receiving either mannitol (n = 6) or no adjunct (n = 8). Mannitol (20%) was given at a rate of 0.4 ml.min-1 x kg-1 starting at 105 min postocclusion until reperfusion was allowed at 2 h, and at a rate of 0.2 ml.min-1 x kg-1 thereafter, until a total of 500 ml had been delivered. Changes in the ST segments were recorded with epicardial wires. The animals were killed at 24 h postocclusion and the hearts excised. Silicone microvascular dye was injected into the previously occluded coronary artery to delineate the perfusion bed. The hearts were fixed in formalin, sliced, and mounted on slides. Using planimetry the ratios of the mean volume of infarct to the mean volume of the perfusion bed (VI/VPB) were calculated and compared.

The VI/VPB for the mannitol treated group was 71.7(SEM 14.0)% and for the control group, 65.6(6.9)% (NS). No significant difference was noted in the mean summated ST segment elevations between the two groups.

Mannitol does not reduce myocardial infarct size or ischaemia in the baboon.