Hemodynamic and metabolic effects of the beta-phosphorylated nitroxide 2-diethoxyphosphoryl-2,5,5-trimethylpyrrolidinoxyl during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.

In vitro, the stable six-membered ring nitroxide 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO) is known to protect the ischemic and reperfused myocardium through a mechanism likely to involve the limitation of free radical damage. In vivo, TEMPO's high rate of reduction into diamagnetic nonactive compounds could limit its pharmacological use and its potential as an ESR probe in oxymetry studies. Recently, beta-phosphorylated nitrones and pyrrolidines have been reported to protect against myocardial reperfusion injury better than their nonphosphorylated analogs.