Comparative effects of aspartate and glutamate during myocardial ischemia

The effects of amino acids aspartate (Asp) and glutamate (Glu) on recovery of contractile function and preservation of compliance were studied in globally ischemic, isolated, blood-perfused cat hearts. Ischemia-induced declines in contractility and compliance were measured with an intraventricular fluid-filled balloon. Asp and Glu were delivered to isolated hearts in physiological salt solution (PSS) containing 10 mM glucose, just prior to, and intermittently during (every 15 min for 1 min) 1 h of normothermic ischemia. Isolated hearts which received Asp and Glu showed recoveries of left ventricular (LV) developed pressure of 79 +/- 8 and 50 +/- 7% of their preischemic values, respectively, compared to 34 +/- 7% in hearts perfused only with PSS. These alterations of contractile function were paralleled by changes in LV compliance. The addition of amino-oxyacetate, and aminotransferase inhibitor, to Asp- containing PSS markedly attenuated the beneficial effects of this amino acid. The results indicate that certain amino acids can protect the ischemic myocardium, presumably through effects on intermediary metabolism.