Myocardial adenosine triphosphate levels during early sepsis

Myocardial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels were determined in rats given sepsis by cecal ligation. Determinations were made after a set time interval, prior to the onset of obtundent effects and immobility, in an attempt to avoid the well-documented, deleterious influence of hypoperfusion status. The absence of a low perfusion state at the time of myocardial biopsy was confirmed by the maintenance of simultaneously determined peripheral organ ATP levels. Myocardial ATP levels were significantly elevated in two groups of septic rats, one minimally hydrated and the other actively hydrated intravenously (IV), when compared with either controls that had not been operated on or animals that underwent sham operations and were IV hydrated. The relationship between elevated myocardial ATP levels and functional status during sepsis deserves further investigation.