CO as a Stimulant for Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Human Cardiac Muscle
Status:
Terminated
Trial end date:
2016-03-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
This study will test if inhalation of Carbon Monoxide (CO) will increase the numbers of
mitochondria in heart muscle. Mitochondria are the small components of muscle and other cells
that convert fuel and oxygen to the easily usable forms of energy (ATP) that power all cell's
activities. Adequate numbers of healthy mitochondria are essential to heart cell function.
From animal and other studies we have reason to believe that breathing small amounts of CO
will signal the body to increase the numbers of mitochondria in heart cells. We propose to
test this theory in heart valve surgery patients by examining a small sample of heart tissue
(from the right atrial appendage) that is routinely cut out during the preparation of the
patient for cardio-pulmonary bypass and that would otherwise be discarded by the surgeon.
Muscle samples from two groups of subjects will be compared. One group will breath CO and the
other group will breath room air. If CO is effective, we should notice an increase in the
numbers of mitochondria in the group that was exposed to CO compared to the group that
breathed room air.