The effect of superoxide dismutase and catalase on myocardial reperfusion injury in the isolated rat heart.

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase on ischemic and reperfusion injury in the isolated working rat heart. The temperature and duration of ischemia varied under three conditions: 1) at 37 degrees C for 35 minutes, 2) at 28 degrees C for 120 minutes and 3) at 20 degrees C for 120 minutes. SOD (100 mg/L) and catalase 10 mg/L) were either added to St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegic solution during ischemia (CP group) or to the reperfusion solution for 10 minutes after reflow (RS group). They were compared with a control group which received no free radical scavengers. The postischemic recovery ratio of cardiac functions were markedly superior to the values of the control group with a significant difference being noted in the CP and RS groups under ischemia at 37 degrees C and 28 degrees C. In the series done at 20 degrees C, a significant improvement was seen in the RS group, and the CP group also showed better functional recovery rates compared with the control group, although the differences were not statistically significant. Thus, SOD and catalase added to the cardioplegic solution or reperfusion fluid demonstrated an excellent protective effect on the myocardium against ischemic or reperfusion injury in both hypothermic ischemia and normothermia.