Nonanticoagulant heparin reduces myocyte Na⁺and Ca²⁺loading during simulated ischemia and decreases reperfusion injury

Closed-chest Yorkshire-cross pigs (n=29 in final analysis, 25-35 kg) subjected to 75-min LAD occlusion and 3-h reperfusion, and isolated adult rabbit ventricular myocytes subjected to 45-min simulated ischemia.

ODSH (2-O, 3-O desulfated heparin) administered intravenously at 5, 15, or 45 mg/kg 2 min prior to reperfusion and repeated at 90 min of reperfusion (in pigs); ODSH 10-100 microg/ml in isolated myocytes.

Saline vehicle (in pigs); untreated simulated ischemia (in myocytes).

Myocardial infarct size (area of necrosis as a percent of area at risk) in pigs; [Na+]i and [Ca2+]i loading in myocytes.surrogate