J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 92(4): 464-468, 1991

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Original article

SUCCESSFUL REWARMING TECHNIQUE OF ISOLATED RAT HEARTS FOLLOWING A LONG TERM PRESERVATION―CALCIUM INCREASE IN A STEP-WISE FASHION―

This study was designed to evaluate the successful rewarming technique of isolated rat hearts which was preserved for 24 hour. Isolated rat hearts preserved with hydroxy ethyl starch (3g/dl) solution at 15°C, was rewarmed and calcium concentration of the perfusate was increased in a step-wise fashion from 0.25 to 2.5mM every 5 minutes. Other hearts were also rewarmed and perfused with normal calcium (2.5mM) solution, throughout the rewarming period.
The hearts perfused with normal calcium solution contracted a few times, and then severely contrac- tured. The heart lost its color and acquired a pale and mottled appearance. On the other hand, the hearts perfused low calcium solution started beating spontaneously, and their heart rate and left ventricular pressure was increased gradually according to the calcium increase. In addition, re-introduction of normal calcium concentration did not change the cardiac parameters.
This results indicated that step-wise increase of calcium concentration of the perfusate prevented heart contracture after rewarming and was a useful rewarming technique.

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