In an ischemia-reperfusion model obtained in isolated perfused guinea pig heart by means of a double ligature of the left anterior descending coronary artery, the reperfusion of the ischemic myocardium leads to a release of lactate dehydrogenase and histamine, related to a decrease in the microdensitometry of cardiac mast cells and to a tissue calcium overload. The perfusion of the heart with L-arginine and with nitric oxide donors significantly reduces the release of histamine, the loss of mast cell metachromasia and calcium overload. These effects were potentiated by superoxide dismutase.

1 Two polydeoxyribonucleotides, produced by the controlled hydrolysis of DNA of mammalian lung (defibrotide and its lower molecular weight fraction, P.O. 085 DV), were studied for their ability to modify the release of nitrite and the coronary flow in perfusates collected from isolated, normally perfused hearts of guinea-pigs and from hearts subjected to regional ischaemia and reperfusion. 2 In guinea-pig normally perfused hearts, both defibrotide (DFT) and its fraction, P.O. 085 DV, increase the amount of nitrite appearing in perfusates in a concentration-dependent fashion. At the highest concentration studied (10-6 M), P.O. 085 DV was more effective than DFT. A concomitant increase in the coronary flow was observed. 3 The increase in nitrite in perfusates and the increase in coronary flow induced by both DFT and P.O. 085 DV were significantly reduced by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, 10-4 M), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). 4 The endothelium-dependent vasodilator, acetylcholine (ACh), enhances the formation of nitrite and the coronary flow. Both the increase in coronary flow and in the formation of nitrite were significantly reduced by L-NMMA (10-4 M). 5In guinea-pig hearts subjected to ischaemia and reperfusion, the effect of both compounds in increasing the amount of nitrite in perfusates was more evident and more pronounced with P.O. 085 DV. 6 Reperfusion-induced arrhythmias were significantly reduced by both compounds to the extent of complete protection afforded by compound P.O. 085 DV. 7 The cardioprotective and antiarrhythmic effects of DFT and P.O. 085 DV are discussed.

Experiments were carried out to provide evidence of the effect of L-arginine (L-Arg), its analogue NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (MeArg) and of some nitrovasodilators (sodium nitroprusside, NaNP; 3-morpholino-sydnonimine, SIN-1) which spontaneously release nitric oxide (NO) on ischemia-reperfusion injury, histamine release and mast cell degranulation, occurring after multiple ligature and release of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery in isolated perfused guinea-pig hearts. The reopening of the LAD coronary artery leads to a release of histamine related to a decrease in microdensitometry of cardiac mast cells and to calcium overload. The perfusion of the heart with NO-donors significantly reduces either the release of histamine, the loss of mast cell metachromasia and the overload of calcium. These effects were potentiated by SOD. The results suggest that the endogenous formation of NO and molecules able to generate NO have a role in the prevention of post-ischemic tissue injury.

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