Cardioprotective effect of pindolol in ischemic-reperfused isolated rat hearts

The effects of pindolol and timolol on ischemia reperfusion damage were studied in isolated working rat hearts. Ischemia (15 min) decreased the mechanical function and the energy state, and increased the tissue levels of free fatty acids (FFA). During reperfusion (20 min), the mechanical function did not recover, but the energy state recovered incompletely, whereas FFA increased further. Pindolol (50 microM) accelerated recovery of the mechanical function and the energy state that had been decreased by ischemia during reperfusion, and inhibited the accumulation of FFA during ischemia and reperfusion, especially when it was applied during the whole period of reperfusion. Timolol (50 microM), however, did not accelerate recovery of the mechanical function and the energy state during reperfusion, although it attenuated FFA accumulation during reperfusion. The pindolol-induced recovery of the mechanical function during reperfusion was reduced by timolol. The results suggest that the intrinsic sympathomimetic activity of pindolol may play an important role, at least in part, in producing the cardioprotective effect, especially during reperfusion.