Protective effects of fluvoxamine against ischemia/reperfusion injury in isolated, perfused guinea-pig hearts

Abstract

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) is known to be activated during ischemia-reperfusion and triggers contractile dysfunction and pathological apoptosis. Here, the beneficial effects of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluvoxamine was demonstrated on ischemia-reperfusion injury in guinea-pig hearts perfused using the Langendorff technique. The recovery (%) of left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) by fluvoxamine (5×10 -8 M) was 95.4% (control: 32%), which was consistent with the inhibition of mitochondrial Ca2+([Ca2+]m) uptake induced by changes in the Ca2+ content and acidification of the perfusate, and similar to reperfusion following global ischemia in Langendorff-perfused hearts. Fluvoxamine inhibited the increase in [Ca 2+]m induced by changes in the Ca2+ content of the perfusate in perfused preparations of mitochondria, which was similar to the results obtained with the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opener atractyroside. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells were significantly less in fluvoxamine-treated hearts than in control hearts, with decreases in caspase-3 activity. These results suggest that SSRI inhibits opening of the MPTP by preventing [Ca2+]m overload-induced apoptosis related to the endogenous accumulation of 5-HT in ischemia-reperfusion hearts. © 2014 The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.