Quercetin Glucuronide Preserves Cardiac Function In Porcine Hearts During Perfusion With Human Whole Blood By Inhibiting Platelet/Neutrophil Activation And Preserving Venular Barrier Function

Quercetin glucuronide (QG) reportedly inhibited the activation of blood cells of the acute immune system and stabilized venular wall models (cells of human origin) in presence of inflammatory mediators. We hypothesized that QG would protect isolated pig hearts during acute activation of the immune system (xenogenic perfusion with human whole blood). 12 hearts of non‐transgenic landrace pigs were explanted (organ preservation solution supplemented with 50 μM QG) and immediately cirumfused for 180 min in an ex vivo working‐mode with human blood in the absence (control group, n=6) or presence of 50 μM QG in the blood (n=6). Hemodynamic function was evaluated and inflammatory interactions were histologically investigated. All hearts maintained mandatory perfusion pressure of >55 mmHg throughout the whole study period. Cardiac function was significantly improved in the QG‐group and very similar to that of pig hearts perfused with autologous blood. Stroke work index (mean ± SEM) was 4272±434 erg/g in the QG‐group vs. 2790±558 erg/g in controls without QG (P<0.05) after 30 min and was still significantly higher at the end of the perfusion period (QG: 3145 ± 160 vs. control: 1570 ± 300 erg/g; p<0.05). Venulothrombosis, venulitis, and excessive accumulation of leucocytes could not be detected in the QG‐group after specific staining and microscopic examination of ventricular myocardium. Supported by a grant of the DFG.