Effects of selenium enriched reperfusion solutions on isolated guinea pig hearts

A comparative study on isolated guinea pig hearts was carried out to determine the role of selenium enriched reperfusion solutions on postischemic reperfusion injury. The hearts of 20 control and 20 study group guinea pigs were mounted on a Langendorff perfusion apparatus and were perfused by gassed Krebs-Henseleit solution at 37 degrees C. The hearts were then arrested by discontinuing the Krebs-Henseleit perfusion. After 20 minutes of normothermic ischemia, in the study group, the hearts were reperfused by selenium enriched Krebs-Henseleit solution (10(-3) mMol/L) and in the control group only Krebs-Henseleit solution was used. Postischemic percentage recovery of mechanical cardiac functions (heart rate and contractile force) and postischemic tissue degeneration indicators. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Adenosine deaminase (ADA) were compared between the groups. Mean percentage change of heart rate, contractile force and heart work were significantly higher (p < or = 0.0001) and tissue MDA and ADA levels were lower (p < or = 0.001) in the selenium reperfused group. Our results demonstrated that addition of selenium to reperfusion solutions significantly improved cardiac functional recovery and decreased postischemic myocardial injury.