Dissociation of myocardial sodium and potassium alterations in mild versus severe ischemia

To determine the relative influence of two levels of ischemia on myocardial cation and water composition as well as cardiac function, intact anesthetized dogs were studied for 1 h using a balloon-tip catheter in the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. Hemodynamic studies in group A revealed a diminished ejection fraction during mild and severe ischemia associated, respectively, with a 36% and 74% decline in transmural coronary flow. Left ventricular end diastolic pressure rose only after severe ischemia. Greater accumulation of sodium and water and loss of K+ in ischemic tissue was observed in animals with severe ischemia. In group B, intracellular cations and water were estimated on the basis of 51Cr-labeled EDTA distribution. The extracellular space was unaltered at either level of ischemia. During mild ischemia, cell Na+ and H2O were enhanced in the inner and outer layers of myocardium. Despite a 25% reduction in subendocardial blood flow by the labeled microsphere technique, K+ content was normal. After severe ischemia, cell K+ was reduced in inner and outer layers. However, the increase of cell Na+ content substantially exceeded K+, suggesting a major effect on the sodium pump or cell permeability.