Differences between atrial and ventricular energy-supplying enzymes in five mammalian species

The purpose of this study was to compare a pattern of 7 enzymes of energy-supplying metabolism in atrial and ventricular myocardium in some mammalian species. Tissue samples of right and left atria and ventricles were obtained from adult male rats, guinea-pigs, rabbits, dogs and pigs. The results clearly demonstrate significant differences in enzyme activities between the atria and ventricles in all these species. In the atria the activity of enzymes connected with aerobic and lactate metabolism (hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, malate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase) was markedly lower than in ventricles. On the other hand, in rats, dogs and pigs glucose phosphorylation capacity (hexokinase) was approximately the same in atrial tissue as in ventricles. Right-to-left metabolic differences were much less expressed; conspicuous was only the higher activity of hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase in the left atria and ventricles of guinea-pigs and rabbits indicating higher fatty acid utilization capacity in the left heart.