GLUTATIONE POSTCONDITIONING ATTENUATES MYOCARDIAL ISCHEMIAREPERFUSION INJURY IN RATS VIA INHIBITION OF MPTP

Abstract

The effect of post-conditioning with reduced glutathione (GSH, hepaval Italy/Ukraine) on myocardial contractility, oxygen cost, and mitochondrial factor release as a marker of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening was studied in ischemia–reperfusion model at Langendorffisolated rat heart. It was found that reperfusion with KrebsHenseleit solution containing GSH provided more complete restoration of the left ventricle developed pressure (70.2 and 56% at 5th and 40th min of reperfusion against 23.6 and 30.9% in control, P < 0.05 for both), reduced oxygen cost of myocardial work (184 and 157% at 5th and 40th min of reperfusion against 413 and 216% in control, P < 0.05 for both), and decreased the value of mitochondrial factor by 3 times, indicating inhibition of MPTP. It was shown that the level of GSH in cardiac tissues was significantly increased by 1.5 times 30 min after administration of hepaval (52 mg per kg) intraperitoneally, indicating accumulation of GSH from the bloodstream. Thus, we have shown that post-conditioning with GSH had cardioprotective effect, inhibited the formation of MPTP and can be used as a tool for correction of post-ischemic disturbances of heart function.