The L-arginine Protective Effect On Myocardial Injury Following Ischemia And Reperfusion In The Pig

Objective: To explore the effect of coronary venous retroinfusion of L-arginine on the myocardial infarct size and the plasma endothelin level in the pigs with acute myocardial infarct. Methods: Three groups were subjected to 60-mm ischemia and 3h reperfusion by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery of the pig. One treatment group received coronary venous retroinfusion of L-arginine (1.5mg.kg1.min1), the second systemic i.v. of L-arginine (1.5mg.kg1.min1), and the third retroinfusion of saline as control group. The infarct sizes were determined by triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) and the plasma endothelin levels of the different parts and different periods were measured. Results: The infarct size in the L-arginine retromnfusion group was 36?0/o of the myocardial area at risk compared to 68?0/o in saline treated controls (p