Cyclic nucleotide levels in the perfused rat heart subjected to hypoxia

Isolated rat hearts were subjected to hypoxic perfusion on a recirculating Langendorff apparatus. Following a 30-min-period of aerobic stabilization the hearts were perfused for 30 min with media equilibrated with 84% N2, 12%O2 and 4% CO2. At the end of the hypoxic period myocardial concentrations of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP were determined by radioimmunoassay. Exposure to hypoxia resulted in a significant increase in cyclic AMP (p less than 0.01) and a decrease in cyclic GMP (p less than 0.05) as compared to hearts perfused for 60 min with media gassed with 96% O2. 4% CO2.