Myocardial substrate utilization and hemodynamics following repeated coronary flow reduction in pigs

The effect of repeated local ischemia and reperfusion on myocardial metabolism and ventricular performance was studied in 12 open-chested pigs fasted overnight. Myocardial ischemia was induced by reduction of the flow in the left anterior descending coronary artery to 40% of control during 30 min. After 35 min of reperfusion a second 30-min occlusion period was started, again followed by a 35-min reperfusion period. At the end of both reperfusion periods coronary flow and coronary resistance had returned to control values. During control there was lactate uptake, but no significant uptake of glucose, free fatty acids (FFA), triglycerdies, glycerol and inosine. During the first occlusion period the heart released lactate and inosine, and used glucose and FFA. At the end of the first reperfusion period lactate uptake approached control values, but inosine was still released by 10 of the 12 animals. In the second ischemic period, glucose and FFA were again taken up. Lactate and inosine were released, but the production was much smaller than during the first occlusion period. Depletion of myocardial glycogen and high-energy phosphates could be responsible for this quantitatively different response. Necrosis may have played a role, although enzyme release was minimal and only observed after the second occlusion period. Heart rate, peripheral resistance and ventricular filling pressure were virtually unchanged throughout the course of the experiments. Maximum rate of fall of left ventricular pressure (min LVdP/dt) decreased during ischemia and did not recover during reperfusion. Changes in min LVdP/dt and cardiac output were more closely related than changes in max LVdP/dt and cardiac output. This model cannot be used for the study of interventions during myocardial ischemia in which the animal serves as its own control.