Donor heart preservation with iloprost supplemented St. Thomas Hospital cardioplegic solution in isolated rat hearts

Abstract This study was designed to assess the influence of St. Thomas Hospital cardioplegic solution (St. Th.) on heart preservation in rat hearts subjected to 6 h ischemia when supplemented with iloprost. In the control group ( n =8), nothing was added to St. Th., whereas 10 or 1000 nmol L −1 iloprost was added in the second ( n =7) and third ( n =8) groups, respectively. Mechanical contraction parameters, cardiac tissue damage and oxidative stress markers were evaluated. The 10 nmol/L iloprost group peak systolic pressure (71.0±30.9 versus 41.0±9.4 mm Hg) and −d p /d t max (1103.8±94.3 versus 678.6±156.8 mm Hg s −1 ) were significantly higher than control group at 30 min of reperfusion ( p p p