Hypertonic Saline Modulates Heart Function and Myocardial Inflammatory Alterations in Brain-Dead Rats

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Physiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Brain death (BD) in organ donors causes hemodynamic instability and myocardial dysfunction.
• Hypertonic saline (HS) is a volume expander with potential hemodynamic and immunomodulatory benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of HS in preventing left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and myocardial injury in a rat model of BD.
• To assess the impact of HS timing on cardiac function and myocardial integrity post-BD.

Main Methods:

• BD was induced in rats using a subdural balloon catheter.
• Animals received either normal saline (Control) or HS (7.5%) at 1 or 60 minutes post-BD.
• Cardiac function was monitored for 6 hours using LV pressure-volume analysis; inflammatory markers and apoptosis were also assessed.

Main Results:

• HS treatment improved LV ejection fraction and systolic function compared to controls.
• HS administration increased antiapoptotic protein expression and decreased inflammatory markers.
• No significant differences in histological or structural protein changes were observed between groups.

Conclusions:

• Hypertonic saline ameliorates LV systolic dysfunction in BD rats.
• HS may reduce myocardial tissue compromise, even when treatment is initiated after BD onset.