Effects of aminophylline used in the early stage of resuscitation on adenosine and vaso-active factors

AIM: To investigate the effects of aminophylline used early in resuscitation on achievement ratio of resuscitation, the concentrations of plasma norepinephrine (NE), adenosine and nitric oxide (NO), and the levels of cardiac tissue endothelin-1 (ET-1) and adenosine in rats with sudden cardiac arrest. METHODS: Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: operated control (group A), epinephrine treatment (group B), and epinephrine plus aminophylline treatment (group C). Each group had 20 rats. The concentrations of plasma NE, adenosine and NO, and the levels of cardiac tissue ET-1 and adenosine were examined in group A and 30 min after survived in group B and group C. RESULTS: The duration of circulation recovered in group C was less than that in group B, significantly (P＜0.05). The rate of return of spontaneous circulation and survival to 30 min was achieved in 75% and 70% in group C, while those were achieved in 60% and 55% in group B, respectively (P>0.05). The concentrations of plasma adenosine and NE, and the levels of cardiac tissue ET-1 and adenosine in group B and group C were higher than those in group A significantly (P<0.05). The concentration of NO in group B was also higher than that in group A (P<0.01). The levels of plasma NO and cardiac tissue ET-1 in group C was lower than those in group B significantly (P＜0.05). CONCLUSION: Aminophylline as adenosine receptor antagonist used early in resuscitation not only increases the achievement ratio of resuscitation, but also decreases the levels of ET-1 and NO, so improves after-resuscitation syndrome.