Intact endothelial and contractile function of coronary artery after 8 hours of heart preservation.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of the study was to investigate if adequate preservation of coronary artery endothelium-dependent relaxation and contractility may be obtained after 8 hours of non-ischemic heart preservation.


DESIGN
Porcine hearts were perfused for 8 hours at 8 °C, either in cycles of 15 minutes perfusion and 60 minutes non-perfusion, or by continuous perfusion. The perfusate consisted of a cardioplegic, hyperoncotic nutrition solution with oxygenated red cells, and the perfusion pressure was 20 mmHg. In organ baths, coronary artery segments from the preserved hearts were studied and compared to fresh controls.


RESULTS
Endothelium-dependent relaxation and contractility were fully preserved after both intermittent and continuous perfusion, as compared to fresh controls. No myocardial edema was seen; water content of the myocardium was 79.5 ± 0.2%, 79.0 ± 0.4% and 79.0 ± 0.3% (ns) for fresh controls, intermittently perfused, and continuously perfused hearts, respectively.


CONCLUSION
Intact endothelial and contractile function of coronary artery may be obtained after 8 hours of non-ischemic heart preservation.
['Qin|Guangqi|G|', 'Sjöberg|Trygve|T|', 'Liao|Qiuming|Q|', 'Sun|Xiaoke|X|', 'Steen|Stig|S|']
D000818:Animals D002314:Cardioplegic Solutions D003331:Coronary Vessels D004730:Endothelium, Vascular D066298:In Vitro Techniques D000067268:Isolated Heart Preparation D009926:Organ Preservation D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions D010477:Perfusion D034421:Sus scrofa D013997:Time Factors D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting D014661:Vasoconstriction D014664:Vasodilation
Heart preservation coronary contractility coronary endothelial function