Comparison of two experimental models for assessment of cardiac preservation

Previous studies from this institution using human cell cultures have suggested that University of Wisconsin solution is preferred for prolonged hypothermic storage for cardiac transplantation. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of extended cardiac preservation with University of Wisconsin solution by assessing the time-related changes of purine metabolites using two different models of cold storage. Isolated rat hearts (n = 6/group) or human ventricular myocyte cultures (n = 7 dishes/group) were assessed after 0, 6, 12, and 24 hours in University of Wisconsin solution at 0 degrees C using high-performance liquid chromatography. Adenosine triphosphate content decreased from 18.1 +/- 5.4 to 9.6 +/- 2.7 mumol/g dried weight by 12 hours and to 1.0 +/- 0.6 mumol/g by 24 hours (p < 0.0001 by analysis of variance) in the rat model. Adenosine triphosphate content decreased from 0.64 +/- 0.42 to 0.14 +/- 0.11 nmol/micrograms DNA at 6 hours and to 0.04 +/- 0.03 nmol/micrograms DNA by 24 hours (p < 0.00001) in the cardiomyocytes. Inosine monophosphate content increased from 0.1 +/- 0.2 to 10.8 +/- 1.0 by 24 hours (p < 0.0001) in the rat studies. Inosine monophosphate values tended to increase up to 12 hours (p = 0.06) in the cell cultures and then declined. Adenosine concentration increased from 0.3 +/- 0.3 to 2.3 +/- 0.9 mumol/g at 6 hours and declined thereafter (p < 0.0005) in the rodent hearts. Adenosine concentration increased from 0.03 +/- 0.02 to 1.53 +/- 0.72 nmol/micrograms DNA at 6 hours (p < 0.0001) in the cardiomyocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)