Changes of organic acids in rat heart muscle under ischemic-like conditions

Gas chromatographic--mass spectrometric analysis demonstrated the presence of organic acids such as lactic acid, glycolic acid, compounds related to the tricarboxylic acid cycle., fatty acids, and deoxyaldonic acids in rat heart muscle. The variation of these organic acids was examined over a range of time elapsed after decapitation. The results showed that lactic acid, glycolic acid and deoxyaldonic acids of 3-deoxy-2-C-(hydroxymethyl)-tetronic acid, 3-deoxyerythropentonic acid and 3-deoxy-2-C-(hydroxymethyl)erythropentonic acid increased until 4 min after decapitation, but then decreased from 6 min after decapitation. On the other hand, 2-deoxytetronic acid and dideoxypentonic acid markedly increased and unknown peaks appeared on the gas chromatogram from 6 min after decapitation.