Hydrodynamics in the heart modulates work

The hydrostatic pressure (perfusion pressure) of the isovolumic isolated perfused rat heart regulated the hydrodynamics (water movement) of the myocardium. An abrupt (10 s) decrease in hydrostatic pressure caused an immediate decrease in oxygen consumption, left ventricular developed pressure, and wall thickness. Wall thickness was determined by two-dimensional echocardiography. When the perfusion pressure was again returned to the control values (140 cm H2O) oxygen consumption, developed pressure, and wall thickness returned to control values within 10-30 s. An abrupt decrease in perfusion pressure also caused an immediate decrease in both extracellular and intracellular water in the heart as determined by H-1 NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) with the shift reagent Dy(TTHA)3- (Dysprosium triethylene tetramine-hexaacetate). Similar findings were obtained using K(CoEDTA) (potassium cobalt ethylenediaminetetraacetate) utilized as an extracellular marker. With a decrease in intracellular water in the heart, there was a concurrent decrease in intracellular calcium.