Effect of free radical scavengers on myocardial function and Na+, K+-ATPase activity in stunned rabbit myocardium
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026
Model of Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury in Rabbits
Published on: November 3, 2023
Peter Kaplan1, Milena Matejovicova, Paul Herijgers
1Centre for Experimental Surgery and Anaesthesiology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Provisorium I, Minderbroedersstraat 17, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium.
Objectives:
The role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the mechanism of myocardial stunning was investigated.
Material And Methods:
Isolated Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts were subjected to 15 min normothermic ischemia followed by 10 min reperfusion with Krebs-Henseleit solution+/-mannitol or histidine.
Results:
In hearts reperfused without free radical scavenger the left ventricular developed pressure as well as its maximal positive and negative first derivatives (+dP/dt, -dP/dt) was significantly depressed, whereas end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) increased when compared to preischemic values. Treatment with mannitol had little protective effects, whereas singlet oxygen scavenger histidine significantly improved the recovery of LVEDP and -dP/dt. Sarcolemmal Na+, K+-ATPase activity (control, 400+/-41 nmol Pi.min-1.mg-1) was depressed in untreated stunned hearts (260+/-27 nmol Pi.min-1.mg-1), but was almost completely recovered in hearts pretreated with histidine (364+/-27 nmol Pi.min-1.mg-1). The inhibition of Na+, K+-ATPase was only slightly prevented by mannitol (302+/-29 nmol Pi.min-1.mg-1l).
Conclusions:
The results suggest that ROS-induced inhibition of Na+, K+-ATPase activity is involved in the mechanism of postischemic contractile dysfunction and support the view that singlet oxygen may be one of the major causes of oxidative injury during ischemia and reperfusion.
