ABSTRACT
Improvement of myocardial protection against global ischemia-reperfusion injury during cardiopulmonary bypass remains to be of primary importance for cardiac surgery. In the present study, the effectiveness of new Krebs-Henseleit buffer-based cardioplegic solution was investigated in an isolated rat heart preparation in normo- and hypothermic states. Use of this crystalloid cardioplegic solution in the normothermic mode (37 degrees C) resulted in better myocardial protection in comparison to standard cardioplegic solutions as evidenced from both infarct size data and the patterns of left ventricular postischemic recovery. The data obtained indicate that Krebs-Henseleit buffer-based cardioplegic solution might be recommended for further preclinical testing.
