Background: During hypothermic blood cardioplegia, oxygen delivery to myocytes is minimal with ineffective anaerobic metabolism predominating. RSR13, 2-[4-[[(3,5-dimethylanilino) carbonyl]methyl]phenoxy]-2-methylpropionic acid, a synthetic allosteric modifier of hemoglobin (Hb), increases release of oxygen from Hb, increasing oxygen availability to hypoxic tissues, and reverses the hypothermia-dependent increase in Hb oxygen affinity. We studied recovery of myocardial mechanical and metabolic function and examined myocardial morphology after cardioplegia, comparing RSR13 (1.75 mmol/L)-supplemented blood (RSR13-BC) to standard blood cardioplegia (BC).
Methods and results: Twelve dogs underwent 15 minutes of 37 degrees C global ischemia on cardiopulmonary bypass, followed by 75 minutes of hypothermic cardioplegia (13 degrees C) with either BC (n=6) or RSR13-BC (n=6). There were no differences in baseline function between groups. Cardiac function was assessed after 30 minutes of 37 degrees C reperfusion (BC versus RSR13-BC, respectively) by measuring: % return to normal sinus rhythm (0/100%), % of baseline+dP/dt (33.7+/-1.7/76.3+/-1.9), % of baseline-dP/dt (26.6+/-2.0/81.1+/-1.6), stroke volume (3.5+/-0.5/7.1+/-0.9 mL), cardiac output (340+/-20/880+/-40.3 mL/min), and LVEDP (11.3+/-2.2/0. 3+/-2.9 mm Hg). Postischemic oxidative and metabolic parameters including myocardial lactate, pyruvate, ATP content, and percent water content also were determined. Histological analysis demonstrated preservation of endothelial and myocyte morphology in hearts receiving RSR13-BC compared with BC.
Conclusions: These results indicate that in the setting of hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass, RSR13 improves recovery of myocardial mechanical and metabolic function compared with standard hypothermic BC. Findings from this study suggest that RSR13-BC, by decreasing hemoglobin oxygen affinity, improves oxidative metabolism and preserves cellular morphology, resulting in significantly improved contractile recovery on reperfusion.