Disastrous physiological effects of saline on the cell membrane demonstrated in cardiac cells

OBJECTIVE: Saline is not an ideal storage solution. It has a low pH, no buffering capacity, and lacks other ions and nutrients. The objective was to explore the effects of storing cardiac muscle in saline. DESIGN: Guinea pig papillary muscles and ventricular myocytes were exposed to saline. The effects on action potential, membrane current, contraction and cell shortening were recorded in vitro at 35-37 degrees C. RESULTS: Saline caused transient hyperpolarization of the resting potential (-140 mV), prolonged duration of the action potential, and increased contraction amplitude, which was later reversed. The membrane resting potential depolarized after a few minutes to about -15 mV and the preparations became unexcitable. The depolarized preparations remained slightly contracted. Upon reperfusion both papillary muscles and cells became unstable and spontaneously active. Storing myocytes in saline for only 2 h resulted in excessive cell death. CONCLUSION: Saline is disastrous for the function of the heart muscle and leads to depolarization, sustained contraction and unexcitable tissue. Saline should not be used as a storage medium, even for short periods of time.