Sivelestat preserves LV tissue in ischemia-reperfusion. (a) Percent infarct area with representative images of left ventricle slices. Sivelestat significantly reduced infarct area as compared to hearts given 25 min ischemia or ischemia and low flow with vehicle only, as observed through TTC staining. Whiter areas indicate regions of tissue infarction, and pink and red areas indicate functional tissue ( per group). n.s.: no significance. (b) Extrusion of intracellular creatine kinase into coronary effluent. Creatine kinase (an intracellular enzyme) release is indicative of cell membrane rupture. Creatine kinase release (U/L) was significantly reduced by treatment with sivelestat at 10 min of full reperfusion, as compared to hearts that did not receive low flow, and at 60 min of reperfusion, as compared to vehicle-treated low flow hearts (/group).
