[Modifications to the solution for reperfusion of the ischemic heart]

Isolated working guinea pig hearts were subjected to 30-min total normothermic ischemia and 30-min reperfusion with modified Krebs solution to which various agents were added. The presence of glutamate in the solution resulted in better recovery of cardiac pump function and higher myocardial energy phosphate levels. Addition of phrelone, a calmodulin inhibitor, or adenosine and ribose did not improve pump function. The similar functional recovery was observed after addition of taurine instead of glutamate and their combination exerted even higher functional recovery while further addition of phosphocreatine was not so effective.