Sarpogrelate diminishes changes in energy stores and ultrastructure of theischemic-reperfused rat heart

Although the involvement of serotonin in exacerbating vascular abnormalitie s in ischemic heart disease has been established, its role in mediating cha nges in cardiac function due to ischemia reperfusion (IR) is poorly underst ood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a serotonin blo cker, sarpogrelate (5-HT2A antagonist), in preventing cardiac injury due to IR. Isolated rat hearts were subjected to 30 min of global ischemia follow ed by 1 h of reperfusion. Sarpogrelate (50 nM-0.9 muM) was infused 10 min b efore ischemia as well as during the reperfusion period. The IR-induced cha nges in left ventricular developed pressure, left ventricular end diastolic pressure, rate of pressure development, and rate of pressure decay were at tenuated (P < 0.05) with sarpogrelate treatment. Sarpogrelate also decrease d the ultrastructural damage and improved the high energy phosphate level i n the IR hearts (P < 0.05). This study provides evidence for the attenuatio n of IR-induced cardiac injury by 5-HT2A receptor blockade and supports the view that serotonin may contribute to the deleterious effects of IR in the heart.