Effects of remifentanil on NF-KB activity in a rabbit model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury

Objective To investigate the effects of remifentanil on NF-κB activity in a rabbit model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion （I/R） injury. Methods Fifty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups （n = 10 each）： sham operation group （group S）; group I/R; low dose of remifentanil group （group L）; median dose of remifentanil group （group M）; high dose of remifentanil group （group H）. In group I/R, L,M and H, myocardial I/R was produced by occlusion of left anterior descending artery for 30 min followed by 120 min reperfusion.In group S and I/R,10 min before ischemia,normal saline was infused at 5 ml·l·h-1 via the external jugular vein until the end of 120 min reperfusion. In group L, M and H, remifentanil was infused at 1, 5 and 10ug·kg·min-1 respectively 10 min before ischemia until the end of 120 min reperfusion,and the other procedures were the same as those in group I/R. The myocardial tissues were taken at the end of 120 min reperfusion for determination of NF-κB expression which was used to reflect the activity of NF-κB and microscopic examination. Results The activity of NF-κB was significantly higher in group I/R, L, M and H than in group S. The activity of NF-κB was gradually decreased with the increase in the dose of remifentanil in group L, M and H compared with group I/R. The microscopic examination showed that remifentanil significantly attenuated I/R-induced injury in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion Infusion of remifentanil reduces myocardial I/R injury through decreasing the activity of NF-κB in a doee-dependent manner. Key words: Piperidines; Myocardial reperfusion injury; NF-kappa B