Defibrotide protects rabbit myocardium from ischemia: relationship with the eicosanoid system

In the isolated rabbit heart preparation we studied the action of defibrotide--a natural polydesoxyribonucleotide from mammalian lungs--on the ischemic myocardial injury and on concentration of prostaglandin-like material in the perfusate. Defibrotide counteracted the ischemic myocardial contracture and significantly improved the recovery of cardiac contractibility and normalization of the rhythm in the postischemic period. This effect seems to be correlated with the concentration of the prostaglandin-like material in the cardiac perfusate. A simultaneous infusion of indomethacin inhibited both the protective effect of defibrotide and the prostaglandin-like material release from the cardiac muscle.