Mechanical and electrophysiologic changes in rat cardiac allografts during immunologic rejection

We studied the relationship between immunologic rejection and changes in contractility of isolated perfused papillary muscle, using heterotopically transplanted rat hearts. Rejection assessed by mononuclear cell infiltration was associated with depressed twitch amplitude and lower rates of tension development and relaxation. The relationship between maximum developed tension and [Ca2+]o was attenuated in muscle from the rejecting allografted heart, as compared with muscle of normal or isografted hearts. To determine the effects of rejection on ventricular electrophysiologic properties, we recorded transmembrane action potentials in isolated ventricular myocardium. We found that in rejecting allografted hearts the resting potential, action potential amplitude, and maximum upstroke velocity of phase zero were significantly reduced compared with normal and isografted hearts. The attenuation in the mechanical and electrophysiologic properties was largely prevented by treating the transplanted rat with anti-lymphocyte-globulin on days 0, 1, and 2 after transplantation. In summary, the present study demonstrates that immunologic rejection of the heterotopically allotransplanted rat heart is associated with marked attenuation of both mechanical and electrophysiologic properties of the ventricular myocardium.