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Myocardial contractility and ischaemia in the isolated perfused rat heart with propofol and thiopentone

Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia volume 38, pages 634–639 (1991)Cite this article

Abstract

The effects of propofol and thiopentone on myocardial contractility and global ischaemia were evaluated using an isolated non-working perfused rat heart preparation. Contractility was assessed using a tension transducer linked to the cardiac apex, and the contractility was expressed as a ratio of the deflection size before and after infusion of the drug. Ischaemia-induced leakage of myocardial proteins and ions (potassium and magnesium) was assessed by comparing the concentrations in the effluent perfusate immediately before and after 60 min of isothermic ischaemia, in the presence of propofol, thiopentone or plain Krebs’ buffer solution (control). Mean contractility ratios of 1.15 and 1.3 were obtained with control and propofol groups respectively (NS), but were reduced to 0.5 in the thiopentone group (P < 0.001). The magnitude of the postischaemic leakage of proteins and potassium was similar in each group; however, the post-ischaemic leakage of magnesium was greater in the thiopentone group than in the propofol or control groups. These data suggest that, compared with thiopentone, propofol is not a potent negative inotrope, and that it may cause less disturbance of myocardial magnesium homeostasis during myocardial ischaemia.

Résumé

Les effets du propofol el du thiopentone sur la contractilité myocardique et l’ischémie globale furent évalués utilisant une préparation isolée de cœur de rat perfusé au repos. La contractilité fut évaluée utilisant un transducteur de pression lié à l’apex et la contractilité fut exprimée par le ratio de la déflection avant et après perfusion des médicaments. La fuite des protéines myocardiques et des ions (potassium et magnésium) induite par ischémie fut évaluée en comparant des concentrations à la sortie dans le liquide de perfusion immédiatement avant et après 60 minutes d’ischémie isothermique en présence de propofol, thiopentone ou une solution de Krebs (contrôle). Des ratios de contractilité moyenne de 1.15 et 1.3 furent obtenus dans les groupes controle et propofol respectivement (NS), mais furent diminués à 0.5 dans le groupe thiopentone (P < 0.001). L’étendue de la fuite post-ischémique des protéines et du potassium était similaire dans chaque groupe, cependant elle etait plus grande pour le magnésium dans le groupe thiopentone comparativement aux groupes controle et propofol. Ces données suggèrent que comparativement au thiopentone, le propofol ne possède pas un effet inotrope négatif puissant et qu’il peut causer moins de perturbation de l’homéostasie du magnésium myocardique lors de l’ischémie myocardique.

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Affiliations

  1. The Department of Pharmacology, University College, Dublin, Ireland

    B. P. Kavanagh & M. P. Ryan

  2. The Departments of Anaesthesia, The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland

    A. J. Cunningham

Authors
  1. B. P. Kavanagh
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  2. M. P. Ryan
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  3. A. J. Cunningham
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Kavanagh, B.P., Ryan, M.P. & Cunningham, A.J. Myocardial contractility and ischaemia in the isolated perfused rat heart with propofol and thiopentone. Can J Anaesth 38, 634–639 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03008201

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Key words

  • anaesthetics, intravenous: propofol, thiopentone
  • heart: contractility, ischaemia