ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author investigates a chemical preparation that protects against ischemic injury in vivo and preserves mitochondrial integrity in vitro in recent years. This preparation contains isomers of di-Calciphor, a member of a family of compounds termed “Calciphors” that have a calcium ionophoretic activity and are derived from prostaglandin B1 and derivatives by polymerization under alkaline conditions. Because cells die at different rates and some do not die for hours after exposure to potassium cyanide or antimycin, we examined whether di-Calciphor could protect cells if added after potassium cyanide. For example, di-Calciphor only provides protection against a narrow range of potassium cyanide concentrations and does not protect hepatocytes from anoxic injury. Therapeutic agents developed from this family of compounds may provide a new approach to protect cells from traumatic or toxicologic injury.
