Mechanisms of pHi recovery after global ischemia in the perfused heart

A Na(+)-HCO3- coinflux carrier and the Na(+)-H+ antiport have both been shown to contribute to recovery from intracellular acidosis in cardiac tissue. We have investigated the participation of these mechanisms as well as metabolite (lactate and CO2) washout in the recovery of pHi after myocardial ischemia. Isovolumic ferret hearts were Langendorff-perfused with either HCO3(-)-buffered or nominally HCO3(-)-free (HEPES-buffered) medium at 30 degrees C. pHi was estimated from the chemical shift of the 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance signal of intracellular PO4-, and net H+ efflux rates were calculated at pHi 6.80. The H+ efflux rate during reperfusion, after 10 minutes of global ischemia, was 15.5 +/- 1.9 mmol.l-1 x min-1 (n = 10) in hearts perfused with HCO3(-)-buffered medium and 8.2 +/- 1.5 mmol.l-1 x min-1 (n = 9, p < 0.01) in hearts perfused with HEPES-buffered medium. HCO3- influx, assessed either by inhibition by 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (20 microM) or by initially perfusing hearts with HEPES-buffered medium but reperfusing with HCO3(-)-buffered medium, accounted for 3.5-4.9 mmol.l-1 x min-1, and CO2 efflux accounted for 3.8-6.2 mmol.l-1 x min-1 of the additional H+ efflux in HCO3(-)-buffered medium. H(+)-coupled lactate efflux, measured by NAD(+)-linked spectrophotometric assay and inhibited by the sarcolemmal monocarboxylate transport inhibitor 4,4'-dibenzamidostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (0.25 mM), contributed 3.7-6.2 mmol.l-1 x min-1. H+ efflux via the 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride-sensitive Na(+)-H+ antiport was 1.0-2.9 mmol.l-1 x min-1. pHi recovery after ischemia is therefore principally mediated by metabolite (lactate and CO2) washout. Na(+)-coupled acid extrusion contributed approximately 35% of total H+ efflux in this system. However, the associated Na+ entry (approximately 5 mmol.l-1 x min-1) may contribute to Ca2+ overload after reperfusion.