KATPChannel Modulators and Myocardial Damages Induced by Ischemia-Reperfusion: Membrane Lipids Injury and Arrhythmias

Although KATP channels have been proposed as playing a role in most types of myocardial damage associated with ischemia/reperfusion, the potential benefits of KATP channel modulators against the biochemical and electrical disturbances observed during ischemia remain unclear. We have thus studied the effects of glibenclamide and cromakalim, KATP channel blocker and opener respectively, on membrane lipid injury and arrhythmias, in a model of ischemic-reperfused guinea-pig myocardium. Ventricular strips were prelabeled with [3H] arachidonic acid, then subjected to normal conditions (Time-related Control) or to simulated ischemic-reperfused conditions in absence of drug (Control) or in presence of glibenclamide 10 microM or cromakalim 10 microM. The release of radioactive compounds was counted by liquid scintillation spectrometry, while action potentials (AP) were recorded with intracellular microelectrodes. Reperfusion induced a significant increase of arachidonic acid release (P0.05 versus Time-related Control). Glibenclamide inhibited the reperfusion-induced arachidonic acid release while cromakalim only delayed it (respectively 483 +/- 87 dpm/g, P0.05 and 790 +/- 143 dpm/g. NS versus 838 +/- 80 dpm/g for Control, after 30 min of reperfusion). Unlike glibenclamide, cromakalim was proarrhythmic during reperfusion (in 100% of preparations versus 33% in Control or in presence of glibenclamide, P0.05). This in vitro study shows that glibenclamide prevented the reperfusion-induced membrane arachidonic acid release, without proarrhythmic effect, whereas cromakalim, associated with proarrhythmicity, was unable to protect myocardium from cell lipid damage.