Effect of improved myocardial protection on edema and diastolic properties of the rat left ventricle during acute allograft rejection

P. F. Soto, C. X. Jia, Y. M. Carter, D. Rabkin, J. P. Starr, M. M.R. Amirhamzeh, D. T. Hsu, R. Sciacca, P. E. Fisher, H. M. Spotnitz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Studies of myocardial edema and diastolic dysfunction in rat heart transplantation have been flawed by ischemic injury. This study uses improved methods to prevent ischemic contracture. Methods: Hearts of 30 ACI rats were transplanted into the abdomen of Lewis rats by use of cold University of Wisconsin solution for improved preservation. Left ventricular diastolic properties were expressed as volume at standardized pressure intervals. Results: On posttransplantation day 3, mean left ventricular volume at 15 mm Hg in allografts (290 ± 9 μl, SEM) was not significantly different vs isografts (299 ± 32 μl), allografts on day 0 (337 ± 28 ml) or day 1 (324 ± 20 μl), or native hearts (334 ±19 μl). However, volume was reduced to 173 ± 17 μl on day 4 and to 70 ± 23 μl on day 5 (p < 0.05). Similar findings were obtained for volume at 5 and 10 mm Hg. Allograft myocardial water content on day 3, 76.3% ± 5%, similar to allografts on day 0 and 1 and to isografts on day 3, increased to 77.6% ± 8% on day 4 (NS) and 79.4% ± 6% on day 5 (p < 0.05 vs day 0). Histologically, rejection in allografts was mild on day 3, moderate on day 4, and severe on day 5. Conclusions: Reduced left ventricular filling volume during rejection is only partially explained by edema. Abnormalities of diastolic properties previously attributed to the unloaded state of nonworking heart models may actually reflect inadequate peritransplantation myocardial protection.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)608-616
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Heart and Lung Transplantation
Volume17
Issue number6
StatePublished - 1998
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Transplantation

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