Beneficial effect of adenosine during reperfusion following prolonged cardioplegic arrest

Study objective – The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of reperfusion with adenosine after prolonged cardioplegic arrest in the isolated working rat heart. Design – After 3 h of hypothermic (20°C) ischaemic arrest with multidose (every 30 min) infusions of St Thomas's Hospital cardioplegic soluton No 1, rat hearts were reperfused with either ordinary perfusion fluid (Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer) or with additional adenosine (1 mg·litre−1) for 15 min prior to assessing recovery of function. Experimental material – Hearts (n=10 in each group) were obtained from male rats weighing 250-300 g. Measurements and main results – Mean coronary flow during the period of reperfusion was increased from 11.8(SEM 0.8) ml·min−1 with ordinary perfusate to 17(0.7) ml·min−1 with adenosine reperfusate (p