OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of postconditioning on cardiac protection of rat hearts suffered from long-term hypothermic preservation.

METHODSThe Langendorff model of isolated rat heart was used. After 30 min of stabilization, the hearts were stored in 4 degrees C Celsior solution for 3 or 5 h followed by 60 min of reperfusion. Postconditioning was initiated by 3 cycles of 30 s ischemia followed by 30 s reperfusion at the beginning of subsequent persistent reperfusion. The recovery of cardiac contractile function and arrhythmia score were observed.

RESULTS(1) Compared with control group, postconditioning increased the recovery of heart rate (HR), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVDP), maximal rise/fall rate of ventricular pressure (dP/dt(max)) and coronary flow (CF) and rate-pressure product (RPP) during reperfusion after 3 h of hypothermic preservation. However, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and the cardiac arrhythmia score during the first 10 min of reperfusion was significantly lower in 3 h postconditioning group than that in 3 h control group. (2) The rat hearts treated by postconditioning with 5-HD(100 micromol/L) abolished the amelioration of contract function induced by postconditioning. And it could also increase the cardiac arrhythmia score. (3) Compared with 5 h control group, the HR, LVDP,dP/dt(max), CF, LVEDP, RPP and the cardiac arrhythmia score were not significantly different in postconditioning treated hearts during reperfusion after 5 h of hypothermic preservation.

CONCLUSIONPostconditioning could provide the cardiac protection on 3 h hypothermic preserved rat hearts,but not on 5 h hypothermic preserved rat hearts. The cardiac protection effect might be partly associated with activation of selective mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel.