Chronotropic action of immobilized subtilisins during the perfusion of an isolated rat heart

Abstract

The pharmacological experiments on isolated organs (ex vivo) are the preferred method for assessing the primary pharmacodynamics of the studied drugs, since this method is completely excluded the systemic influence of neurohumoral regulation. In the last decade, a new group of thrombolytic drugs based on immobilized subtilisins has been formed. At the stage of registrational preclinical and clinical studies, their pleiotropic pharmacological effects have not been studied. Meanwhile, there is a reason to consider that their pharmacological activity in the bloodstream is not limited to thrombolytic action, but may be extended to a systemic effect on the cardiovascular system. The aim of the study was to investigate the chronotropic effects of an isolated heart during its perfusion with solutions of immobilized subtilisins at different concentrations. Material and methods. The isolated rat heart model according to Langendorff was used in the study. The experiment included 50 Wistar rats, which were divided into 5 groups: isolated hearts perfused only with Krebs – Henseleit solution (control) or with immobilized subtilisins in 4 concentrations (170, 340, 510 и 1020 U/l). Results and discussion. The immobilized subtilisins have a negative chronotropic effect. The onset of the effect depends on the drug concentration in the solution: the higher concentration, the earlier effect. From 5 to 10 minutes of perfusion, a negative chronotropic effect is observed using of immobilized subtilisins at any dose. The duration of its increase is manifested up to 10–20 minutes, depending on the drug concentration in solution. After 20 minutes of perfusion, the achieved negative chronotropic effect remains at a plateau level up to 40 minutes. Conclusion. The immobilized subtilisins have an independent pharmacological effect on heart rate.