ENHANCEMENT OF THE RECOVERY OF RAT HEARTS AFTER PROLONGED COLD-STORAGE BY CYCLOCREATINE PHOSPHATE

The present study determined whether the administration of cyclocreati ne phosphate (CCrP) prior to ischemia can enhance the recovery of rat hearts hypothermically preserved for a prolonged period. Rats (n=6 per group) were injected intravenously with 1 ml saline or CCrP (500 mg/k g). After 2 hr, hearts were excised and arrested by an infusion of Uni versity of Wisconsin solution. Saline hearts were then incubated in 40 ml UW, while CCrP hearts were incubated in 40 ml UW containing 100 mg CCrP; a mixture that is now referred to as Hartford Hospital (HH) sol ution. After 6 hr of storage at 4-degrees-C, hearts were reperfused in the Langendorff mode for 15 min and then in the working heart mode fo r 30 min. Results indicated that the recovery of cardiac function-meas ured as aortic flow, coronary flow, cardiac output, stroke volume, and stroke work-was significantly better in CCrP group (50-55% baseline) compared with that of saline hearts (20-25%). Although no difference i n enzyme leakage (i.e., creatine kinase) or lactate was detected betwe en the two groups, the increase in heart weight after the initial 6-hr storage was significantly higher in saline hearts compared with that of CCrP hearts. Results of this study support the conclusion that CCrP treatment provides improved functional recovery after prolonged hypot hermic preservation.