Studies on the eleterious effects of free radicals on myocardial contractility and hemodynamics in dogs: Protection by felodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist

Effect of pharmacological interventions in the prevention of lipid peroxidation and respiratory depression induced by oxygen free radicals in anesthetized rats

We have recently reported that in an anesthetized rat model, generation of oxygen free radicals (OFR) via i.v. administration of Xanthine plus Xanthine Oxidase [X + XO] resulted in death of about 90% of the animals within a 120-min observation period. Pretreatment of the rats with endogenous scavengers Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase, or with felodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, and/or with dopexamine, an agonist of beta 2 adrenoceptors as well as dopamine (DA-1) receptors significantly enhanced the survival rate to over 70%. The present study was designed to investigate whether lipid peroxidation and ensuing respiratory depression contributed to the lethal toxicity of the free radicals. In the control group, the death of the rats administered [X + XO] was proceeded by significant increases in the plasma lipid peroxides (PLP) and by a severe hypertensive response characteristic of an intense ischemic state, which was confirmed by the presence of hypercapnia, hypoxemia, and acidosis. Placement of the animals on the positive pressure ventilation prior to the administration of [X + XO] did not prevent increases in PLP but, prevented any adverse alterations in the respiratory markers and significantly enhanced survival rate up to 70%. In contrast, both felodipine as well as dopexamine prevented any increases in PLP, normalized blood gas profile, and significantly increased survival rate to 80 to 90%. These observations suggest that the lethal toxicity produced by oxygen free radical was due to respiratory distress. The relationship between increases in the PLP and respiratory depression and the mechanisms via which two pharmacologically distinct agents, felodipine and dopexamine, facilitated the salutary effects cannot be conclusively stated at this time. It is further suggested that although the doses of these two drugs employed in the present studies are not adequate to function as antioxidants, such a possibility cannot be entirely ruled out.

Comparative evaluation of the acute effects of oxygen free radicals on myocardial contractility in anesthetized dogs with those occurring in the early stages of splanchnic artery occlusion and hemorrhagic shock

Oxygen free radicals are cytotoxic and generated in excessive quantities during reoxygenation of ischemic organs. It has been demonstrated that oxygen free radicals impair cardiac contractile mechanisms in in vitro studies as well as depress myocardial contractility in in vivo experiments. The objectives of the present studies are to evaluate alterations in cardiac contractility and hemodynamics in two canine models of shock, namely, Wigger's model of hemorrhage and splanchnic artery occlusion (SAO) model. The data obtained in these models are comparatively evaluated with that caused by oxygen free radicals. Pentobarbital anesthetized dogs were instrumented to record blood pressure, heart rate, left ventricular pressure, (LVP & LVEDP) and LVdp/dt. Contractility index was evaluated as max dp/dt.p. In the Wigger's model, during the period of hemorrhage or after reinfusion of the shed blood despite marked variations in preload and afterload, index of contractility was not altered. Similarly, in the SAO model also, during the period of occlusion or after release, contractility index was not depressed. However, in both the models, after reinfusion of the blood (Wigger's) or after release of splanchnic arteries, there were gradual deteriorations of stroke volume, cardiac output, and arterial blood pressure. In contrast, after generation of free radicals by exogenous administration of xanthine plus xanthine oxidase, cardiac contractility was significantly depressed leading to decreases in stroke volume, cardiac output, and blood pressure. Using identical procedures to evaluate contractility, we have demonstrated that the initial depression of myocardial contractility was not the causative factor for circulatory failure in the two models of shock.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)