[Adenosine triphosphate: an additive myocardial agent in cardioplegia]

The potential for enhancing myocardial protection by adding ATP to cardioplegic solution was investigated in a rat heart model of cardiopulmonary bypass. Concentration of added ATP was 0.01 mM and 0.1 mM. The hearts were perfused by working heart model for 10 min as a baseline hemodynamic variables and they underwent infusion of cardioplegic solution followed by 20 min cardiac arrest with myocardial temperature at 37 degrees C. The ATP added group revealed good % recovery of aortic flow after 20 min period of ischemic arrest compared to the ATP free control group. But there is no difference between 0.01 mM and 0.1 mM ATP added group. ATP added group showed higher ATP concentration in myocardium and ATP/ADP and energy charge after 20 min of ischemic arrest than ATP free control group. But total adenosine showed no difference. The result suggested that ATP was a protective myocardial agent in cardioplegic solutions and ATP might protect membrane-bound ATP dependent process by ensuring energy supply.