Effects of postconditioning with N,N,N'N'-tetrakis-[2-pyridylmethyl]-ethylenediamine in isolated rat hearts

BACKGROUND: It was reported that N,N,N'N'-tetrakis-[2-pyridylmethyl]-ethylenediamine (TPEN), a transition metal chelator, confers cardioprotection against myocardial ischemic injury. In this study, we investigated the effect of TPEN targeting reperfusion period in isolated rat hearts. METHODS: Langendorff perfused rat hearts were subjected to 30 min of regional ischemia and 2 h of reperfusion. Hearts were randomly assigned to either control (n = 9) or 10 µM of TPEN (n = 8) groups. TPEN was perfused for a period of 5 min before and 30 min after reperfusion. RESULTS: The ratio of infarct area/ischemic area (AN/AR) was significantly reduced in TPEN treated hearts (6.9 ± 1.7%, P < 0.001) compared to control hearts (29.5 ± 3.2%). Recovery of left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), rate-pressure product (RPP), +dP/dt(max), and -dP/dt(min) in the control group after reperfusion were 53.8 ± 6.2%, 51.0 ± 6.3%, 51.9 ± 5.7%, and 51.4 ± 5.7%, respectively, of the baseline levels. In the TPEN group, LVDP, RPP, +dP/dt(max), and -dP/dt(min) returned to 58.5 ± 4.6%, 54.8 ± 6.4%, 61.7 ± 4.9%, and 53.4 ± 3.9%, respectively, of the baseline levels. There were no significant differences in the cardiodynamic variables between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacological postconditioning with TPEN reduces myocardial infarction however, TPEN does not modify post-ischemic systolic dysfunction in isolated rat hearts.