Regional short-term myocardial hibernation in swine does not involve endogenous adenosine or KATP channels

Short-term hibernating myocardium is characterized by reduced contractile function during persistent ischemia, the recovery of metabolism over time, a recruitable inotropic reserve, and the lack of necrosis. The mechanisms underlying myocardial hibernation are unclear. The present study addressed the role of endogenous adenosine and that of activation of ATP-dependent potassium (KATP) channels. In 22 enflurane-anesthetized swine, coronary inflow was reduced to decrease regional myocardial work (W, measured by sonomicrometry) by 60-70% at 5 min of ischemia; this flow reduction has previously been shown to be compatible with the development of myocardial hibernation. Systemic hemodynamics, W, subendocardial blood flow (measured by microspheres), and the myocardial creatine phosphate content (measured by biopsies, mumol/g wet wt) were measured under control conditions and during 90 min of ischemia, with an intracoronary dobutamine infusion during the last 5 min of ischemia. The impact of endogenous adenosine was eliminated by infusion of intracoronary adenosine deaminase (ADA), and the impact of activation of KATP channels by glibenclamide. Creatine phosphate content recovered in the placebo-treated swine (n = 8, 3.8 +/- 1.9 to 5.8 +/- 2.0 mumol/g wet wt) as well as in swine receiving ADA (n = 7, 4.1 +/- 1.2 to 6.0 +/- 1.7 mumol/g wet wt) or glibenclamide (n = 7, 2.8 +/- 1.3 to 6.7 +/- 1.6 mumol/g wet wt) when ischemia was prolonged from 5 to 85 min. At the end of 90 min of ischemia, W increased during intracoronary dobutamine in all three groups to a comparable extent, and myocardial necrosis was absent in all three groups of swine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)