Ozone administration reduces reperfusion injury in an isolated rat heart model.

Background: Accumulating clinical experience with ozone administration for conditions associated with ischemia has been encouraging. The aim of our study was to determine the effect of ozone on reperfusion injury in an isolated rat heart model.

Methods: Isolated rat hearts were perfused with modified Krebs-Henseleit buffer solution via ascending aorta cannulation. After 15 minutes, perfusion was stopped and global ischemia was maintained for 30 minutes, following which perfusion was restarted, and continued for 40 minutes. Baseline hemodynamic measurements (heart rate, left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), dP/dt, and coronary flow) were taken prior to ischemia, and every 10 minutes after reperfusion was started. Eleven hearts were treated with ozone during reperfusion and eight hearts served as controls. In the treatment group, after 5 minutes of reperfusion, ozone was administered in distilled water via a side arm for 5 minutes.

Results: Preischemic baseline hemodynamic measurements and coronary flow were similar in the two groups. Hearts treated with ozone during reperfusion exhibited better recovery than did controls. Mean (+/-SE) percent recovery for treatment and control groups, respectively, was: LVDP 69 +/- 2% vs 51 +/- 6% (p = 0.04); dP/dt 68.9 +/- 13.3% vs 53.7 +/- 20.4% (p = 0.05); and LVDPxHR 61.4 +/- 3.3% vs 44.4 +/- 3.5% (p = 0.02).

Conclusion: In the isolated rat heart model, treatment with ozone during reperfusion enables better recovery than in controls. Although the mechanism by which ozone exerts its beneficial effect is not identified, it is possibly due to reduction in reperfusion injury.