[Adenosine metabolism in the myocardium in experimental myocardial infarct]

It was shown in dog experiments that the formation and content of the adenosine precursor in the zone of the infarction and the surrounding parts of the myocardium undergo no essential changes. At the same time, further conversion of adenosine monophosphate in an infarction heart is deeply disturbed due to shifts in the enzymatic systems of the adenosine cycle. In the area of the necrosis adenosine monophosphate is metabolized mainly without the production of adenosine because high activity of AMP aminohydrolase here occurs in conjunction with deep inhibition of 5-nucleotidase. Diametrically opposite relationships are created in the myocardium outside of the focus of infarction and adenosine production does not suffer evidently. In both areas of the involved heart adenosine decomposition is delayed due to the inhibition of adenosine deaminase, but in the infarction zone this shift is restricted to 48 hours whereas in the periinfarction zone it is not corrected even 10 days after reproduction of the pathological condition.