Previous observations from this laboratory have shown that phosphate-buffered sucrose preservation solutions are effective in protection of liver and kidney from ischaemic damage (Ahmad et al. 1997; Song et al. 2001).

The safe ischaemic storage time for transplant hearts remains limited. In this study we modified phosphate-buffered sucrose (to make PBSH containing Na₂HPO₄ 42.3, NaH₂PO₄ 10.67, KH₂PO₄ 16, sucrose 100, MgCl₂ 5, CaCl₂ 0.6, NaCl 12, Diltiazem 0.5 mmol l^-1) to provide improved preservation of rat heart and compared its effectiveness with currently used solutions: University of Wisconsin (UW), Lactobionate-mannitol (CS), and St Thomas’ no. 2 (STh2). Rats were anaesthetised I.P. with pentobarbitone (60 mg kg^-1) and the hearts removed. Hearts were set up in a Langendorff configuration for 5 min perfusion, followed by 15 min working perfusion when control functional observations were made. They were then flushed with preservation fluid, cooled and stored at 4 °C for 6 h. Hearts were then rewarmed for 15 min in a Lagendorff configuration followed by 30 min working during which experimental observations were made. The results are shown in Table 1.

We conclude that PBSH provides better protection from ischaemic damage than Sth2, CS and UW in this model of cardiac ischaemia.

This work was supported by the Combined Transplant Fund of St James’ Hospital.

All procedures accord with current UK legislation.