The effect of the addition of albumin to cardioplegic and preservation solutions on the isolated rat heart.
This experimental study evaluates the effect of the addition of albumin to cardioplegic and preservation solutions on isolated rat hearts. Male Wistar rat hearts were arrested with a 4 degrees C crystalloid cardioplegic solution. All hearts were immersed for 8 hours in a 4 degrees C Euro-Collins solution. They were divided into four groups: group I, the cardioplegic solution was used for cardiac arrest, and the 4 degrees C Euro-Collins solution did not contain albumin; group II, the cardioplegic solution was adjusted to an albumin concentration of 3%; group III, the preservation solution contained 3% albumin; and group IV, both the cardioplegic and the preservation solutions contained 3% albumin. The cardiac output for group IV increased more than that for any other group (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). The total concentration of creatine kinase-MB at 30 minutes after reperfusion in group III decreased less than that in groups I and II. The level of myocardial adenosine triphosphate in group IV was better preserved than that in any other group; the myocardial calcium content in group IV decreased compared to the other groups. However, no significant difference between groups III and IV was found. The level of malondialdehyde as a measure of lipoperoxide values showed significant differences between groups I and IV and groups II and IV at 5 minutes after reperfusion (p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)