Chemical preconditioning by 3-nitropropionic acid reduces ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat heart

This study was designed to investigate the cardioprotective effects of preconditioning with 3-nitropropionic acid, an inhibitor of mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase. 16 isolated rat hearts were randomly divided into two groups, a treatment group and a control group. The rats of the treatment group were treated intraperitoneally with 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NPA, 4 mg/kg) and the rats of the control group were treated with saline. 24 h after the treatment, the isolated hearts were mounted on a Langendorff apparatus. After 30 min, the hearts were subjected to 30-min ischemia and 60-min reperfusion. The HR, LVDP and +/- dp/dt(max) were measured at pre-ischemia and 30 min, 60 min after the reperfusion. Coronary effluent was collected 15 min after the reperfusion for the determination of CK and LDH. At the end of the 60-min reperfusion the heart was removed for the determination of myocardial SOD and MDA. Our results showed that in the 3-NPA group LVDP and +/- dp/dt(max) recovered significantly better, myocardial MDA, CK and LDH were significantly lower and the myocardial SOD was significantly higher than in the control group. It is concluded that chemical preconditioning by 3-nitropropionate has cardioprotective effects against ischemia-reperfusion injury.