The role of ATP and lactic acid for mitochondrial function during myocardial ischemia

Phosphorylation rates of canine heart mitochondria isolated after various periods of myocardial ischemia after cardioplegic arrest were correlated with the myocardial ATP-, lactate- and undissociated lactic acid content as well as with interstitial H+-concentration. The following correlation coefficients were found: ATP: 0.87, lactate: 0.93, interstitial H+: 0.73. The calculated undissociated lactic acid content and the mitochondrial phosphorylation rate during ischemia showed a correlation coefficient of r = 0.95. Swelling measurements of mitochondria, isolated immediately after cardioplegic arrest, demonstrated that an undissociated lactic acid- and an ATP-concentration of 70 microM and 28 microM respectively are necessary for a half maximal swelling reaction under anaerobic conditions. The results suggest that the accumulation of undissociated lactic acid during myocardial ischemia could play an important role for mitochondrial damage in vivo.