OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of Tongxinluo (TXL) ultramicro-pulverization in preventing and treating post-reperfusion no-reflow in mini-swine model of acute myocardial infarction.

METHODSForty mini-swines were randomly divided into 5 groups, the control group, the three (low-, middle- and high-dose) TXL groups and the sham-operation group, with 8 in each group. After pigs in the three TXL groups were administered with TXL in a dose of 0.05g/kg, 0.2g/kg and 0.5g/kg once a day for 3 days respectively, they were made into acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion model by ligating left anterior descending coronary artery for 3h followed with 1h of untying. Hemodynamic examination and myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) were conducted before and after ligation, and after reperfusion, finally, pathological analysis was done.

RESULTSPost-reperfusion ventricular function injury was significantly improved in the three TXL groups, as compared with the control group, the no-reflow area determined by hemodynamic and MCE decreased from 78.5 +/- 4.4% and 82.3 +/- 1.9% in control to 43.4 +/- 3.2% and 44.6 +/- 3.3% (low-dose), 25.2 +/- 2.4% and 25.7 +/- 4.0% (middle-dose), 24.0 +/- 1.9% and 24.9 +/- 4.2% (high-dose), respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and the myocardial infracted area was reduced from 98.5 +/- 1.4% to 89.8 +/- 4.6%, 80.2 +/- 3.1% and 79.9 +/- 3.1%, respectively (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTXL ultramicro-pulverization can effectively prevent and treat no-reflow after myocardial acute infarction following reperfusion, and reduce the infracted area.