Postjunctional alpha-adrenergic stimulation of inotropy in hypoperfused myocardium outside an acute infarct

The functional significance of myocardial postjunctional alpha-adrenergic support of inotropy in the vicinity of an acute regional ischemic zone was addressed in pentobarbital-anesthetized, beta-adrenergic blocked cats with circumflex coronary artery occlusion. Regional myocardial performance was measured by ultrasonic crystals in the anterior wall perfused by the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) before and during postjunctional alpha-adrenergic antagonism (SK&F 104078 2 mg/kg). A group with unrestricted flow in the LAD (control group) was compared with a group perfused below the autoregulatory pressure range (stenosis group). End-systolic pressure-length relations during dynamic after-load elevation were calculated for assessment of regional contractility. Regional myocardial blood flow (RMBF) was measured by radioactive microspheres. SK&F 104078 did not alter regional myocardial shortening or the slope of end-systolic pressure-length relations in the control group. In the stenosis group, however, alpha-adrenergic antagonism produced significant deterioration of shortening as well as consistent reduction of the slope of the end-systolic pressure-length relations (p < 0.05). As a reflection of reduced demands for perfusion, impairment of midmyocardial and endocardial blood flow occurred in the stenosis group (p < 0.05). These findings imply a negative inotropic effect of SK&F 104078 in metabolically vasodilated myocardium in the vicinity of an acute ischemic region.