POSTISCHEMIC FREE-RADICAL PRODUCTION IN THE VENOUS-BLOOD OF THE REGIONALLY ISCHEMIC SWINE HEART - EFFECT OF DEFEROXAMINE

Background. We tested the hypothesis that secondarily produced free radicals can be detected in venous coronary effluent without the need for direct exposure of postischemic tissue to the spin trapping agent alpha-phenyl-tert-butylnitrone (PBN). Methods and Results. The left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) of pigs was ligated for 15, 30, 40, or 60 minutes, and the tissue was subsequently reperfused for 60 minutes. Venous effluent (6.5 ml) from the risk area was withdrawn sequentially at 1.5-minute intervals during reperfusion. The effluent blood was immediately infused (4.5 ml/min) with an isotonic saline solution containing 120 mM PBN. Preischemic control effluent samples were collected in an identical fashion. Plasma from each sample was extracted in organic solvent and subsequently analyzed by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Another group of pigs received an infusion of the metal chelator deferoxamine mesylate (25 mg/kg/hr) into the right atrium starting 1 hour before the 40-minute ligation and continuing throughout ligation and reperfusion. We were able to demonstrate the postischemic production of ESR signals for PBN adduct(s) from untreated hearts having spectral characteristics similar to an alkoxyl adduct (PBN-RO.; hyperfine splitting constants for beta-hydrogen [alpha-H] = 2.0-2.25 G; nitrogen [alpha-N] = 13.5-13.75 G). The reperfusion time course of PBN adduct production had a unique pattern: 1) multiple low-level bursts during the initial 15 minutes of reperfusion, and 2) a prominent PBN adduct signal during a relatively late time (20-25 minutes) of reperfusion. Total postischemic PBN adduct production rose with increasing duration (15-60 minutes) of ischemia and was associated with a progressive elevation of total lactate dehydrogenase in the effluent. Infusion of deferoxamine markedly diminished PBN adduct production as well as total release of lactate dehydrogenase. Conclusions. These data suggest the potential feasibility of using an ex vivo ESR spin trapping technique in blood-perfused models of cardiovascular injury and that chelatable free iron contributes to the production of alkoxyl radicals.