PROTECTION OF THE ISCHEMIC RAT-HEART BY PROCYSTEINE AND AMINO-ACIDS

This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of amino acids and/ or Procysteine (Clintec Technologies, Inc., Deerfield, IL, USA) on the recovery of cardiac function of the rat heart subjected to ischemia/r eperfusion. Recovery of myocardium following ischemia/reperfusion is a ffected by both oxidative stress associated with depletion of glutathi one and depletion of mitochondrial substrates. Procysteine maintains c ellular levels of glutathione; amino acid supplies substrates for mito chondria. The model was the in vitro rat heart subjected to global no- flow ischemia and reperfused. Controls were perfused with buffer Endpo ints were several hemodynamic parameters. Procysteine was maximally ef fective at 250 and 500 mu mol/L (41% recovery of cardiac output). At 4 0 minutes post-no-flow ischemia, recovery of cardiac output was: contr ols, 11 +/- 4%; 500 mu mol/L Procysteine, 41 +/- 10%; 0.25% amino acid , 34 +/- 9%; Procysteine plus amino acid, 62 +/- 10%. Other hemodynami c parameters were also enhanced. Kinetics of recovery differed between the two modes of treatment. Procysteine and amino acid, alone or in c ombination, improved recovery of rat hearts from ischemia/reperfusion injury; the effects were additive. The kinetics of recovery differ wit h the two modes of treatment. The low toxicity and good efficacy of Pr ocysteine and amino acids suggest their use in treatment of the ischem ic myocardium.