The Impact of Adenosine Fast Induction of Myocardial Arrest during CABG on Myocardial Expression of Apoptosis-Regulating Genes Bax and Bcl-2

Abstract

Background. We studied the effect of fast induction of cardiac arrest with denosine on myocardial bax and bcl-2 expression.Methods and Results. 40 elective CABG patients were allocated into two groups. The adenosine group (n=20) received 250 μg/kg adenosine into the aortic root followed by blood potassium cardioplegia. The control group received potassium cardioplegia in blood. Bcl-2 and bax were measured. Bax was reduced in the postoperative biopsies (1.38 versus 0.47,P=.002) in the control group. Bcl-2 showed a reducing tendency (0.14 versus 0.085,P=.07). After the adenosine treatment, the expression of both bax (0.52 versus 0.59,P=.4) and bcl-2 (0.104 versus 0.107,P=.4) remained unaltered after the operation.Conclusion. Open heart surgery is associated with rapid reduction in the expression of apoptosis regulating genes bax and bcl-2. Fast Adenosine induction abolished changes in their expression.