Taurine and calcium interaction in protection of myocardium exposed to ischemic reperfusion injury

We aimed to investigate the cardio-protective role of taurine with low calc ium level against reperfusion damage by adding taurine to extracellular flu id. Guinea-pig hearts were mounted on Langendorf perfusion apparatus and di fferent compositions of perfusion solutions were prepared for each experime ntal group. After 20 min of normothermic ischemia the hearts were reperfuse d. Pre-ischemic, post-ischemic and post-reperfusion percentage changes of h eart rate and contractile force were compared. Post-reperfusion tissue weig ht, malondialdehyde (MDA) and prostaglandin E-like activity (PGE-like activ ity) were assessed. Taurine-added low-calcium perfusion solution significan tly decreased the postischemic myocardial injury. Published by Elsevier Sci ence Inc.