Evidence For a Role of Iron-Catalyzed Oxidants in Functional and Metabolic Stunning in the

Brief (15-mlnute) coronary occlusion and subsequent reperfusion lead to prolonged functional and metabolic abnormalities (stunned myocardium). Previous work suggests that one factor responsible for this phenomenon is oxygen-derived free radicals. The formation of the highly reactive hydroxyl radical requires the presence of metal ions, most importantly iron. In the present study, the effect of the iron-chelator deferoxamlne on the recovery of segment shortening (%SS) in the stunned myocardium was compared with a control group in barbital anesthetized dogs. Deferoxamine (500 mg intra-atrially) was administered 15 minutes prior to and throughout 15 minutes of coronary occlusion. %SS, regional myocardial blood flow, hemodynamics, and myocardial high-energy phosphates were measured. Areas at risk, collateral blood flow, and all hemodynamic parameters were similar between control and deferoxamine-treated animals. While deferoxamlne did not prevent the loss of systolic wall function that occurred during ischemia, deferoxamine significantly improved the recovery of %SS at all times throughout reperfusion (3-hour %SS of pretreatment: control, 12±11; deferoxamine, 65 ±12), normalized endocardia! ATP (percent of nonischemic area: control, 79±3%, deferoxamine, 93±6%), attenuated the reperfusion-induced rebound increase i