A potential detrimental role of
endothelin-1 in
myocardial ischemia/
reperfusion injury was studied by use of the
endothelin-1 antagonists
BQ123 and
BQ610. Isolated isovolumetric rat hearts were perfused at constant pressure.
BQ123 (7 micrograms/min) and
BQ610 (1.75 micrograms/min) did not alter mechanical function or coronary flow and shifted dose-response curves for
endothelin-1 significantly to the right. In rats subjected to 30 min of no-flow
ischemia, the increase of left ventricular resting pressure was significantly delayed by
BQ123 and
BQ610 compared to control (
BQ123: 20 +/- 2* mmHg,
BQ610: 19 +/- 2* mmHg, control: 44 +/- 4 mmHg at 15 min of
ischemia, respectively, *P < 0.05 v control). With reperfusion after 30 min of
ischemia, recovery of left ventricular developed pressure was not significantly affected but tended to be better with
endothelin-1 antagonist pretreatment (
BQ123: 20 +/- 3 mmHg;
BQ610: 19 +/- 3 mmHg, control 12 +/- 3 mmHg). However, in hearts subjected to 15 min of
ischemia followed by reperfusion, recovery of left ventricular developed pressure was improved by
BQ610 pretreatment (
BQ610: 52 +/- 8* mmHg, control: 24 +/- 6 mmHg). We conclude:
BQ123 and
BQ610 effectively antagonize the coronary constrictive effect of
endothelin-1.
BQ123 and
BQ610 delay the development of
contracture during
ischemia and may improve functional recovery during reperfusion. Our findings suggest that endogenous
endothelin-1 may contribute to
ischemia/reperfusion injury.