Effect of dantrolene in an in vivo and in vitro model of myocardial reperfusion injury

BACKGROUND: In skeletal muscle, dantrolene reduces free cytosolic calcium by inhibiting calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. A similar effect in ischemic-reperfused heart cells would protect myocardial tissue against reperfusion injury. We tested the hypothesis that dantrolene infusion during reperfusion protects the heart against reperfusion injury. METHODS: Isovolumetric beating rat hearts were subjected to 30 min of ischemia followed by 60 min of reperfusion. Left ventricular (LV) developed pressure (LVDP) and creatine kinase release (CKR) were determined as indices of myocardial performance and cellular injury, respectively. In the treatment groups, dantrolene (25 (DAN25) or 100 (DAN100) micromol l(-1)) was infused during the first 15 min of reperfusion; control hearts received the respective concentration of the vehicle (mannitol (CON25, CON100), each group n=7). To investigate the effects of dantrolene on reperfusion injury in vivo, 18 chloralose-anesthetized rabbits were subjected to 30 min occlusion and 180 min reperfusion of a major coronary artery. LV pressure (LVP), cardiac output (CO), and infarct size were determined. During the last 5 min of ischemia, nine rabbits received 10 mg kg(-1) dantrolene intravenously (DAN). Another nine rabbits received the vehicle (dimethylsulfoxide) and served as controls (CON). RESULTS: In isolated rat hearts, there was no recovery of LVDP in any group. Total CKR during 1 h of reperfusion was 845+/-76 (CON100) and 550+/-81 U g(-1) dry mass (DAN100, P<0.05). In rabbits in vivo, hemodynamic baseline values were similar between groups (CON vs. DAN: LVP, 99+/-6 (mean+/-SEM) vs. 91+/-6mm Hg, P=0.29; CO, 252+/-26 vs. 275+/-23 ml min(-1), P= 0.53). During coronary artery occlusion, LVP and CO were reduced in both groups (CON: LVP, 89+/-3%; CO, 90+/-5% of baseline values) and LVP did not recover to baseline values during reperfusion (51+/-5% (CON) vs. 67+/-7% (DAN) of baseline, P=0.10). Infarct size was 41+/-4% of the area at risk in controls and 37+/-6% in dantrolene treated hearts (P=0.59). CONCLUSIONS: Dantrolene reduced CKR, indicating an attenuation of lethal cellular reperfusion injury in isolated rat hearts. However, in the rabbit in vivo, there was no effect on the extent of reperfusion injury after regional myocardial ischemia.