Specific mitochondrial DNA deletions in canine myocardial ischemia

The effect of myocardial ischemia on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) structure and the presence of specific mtDNA deletions was determined using the model of Ameroid constriction of canine coronary arteries. The incidence of specific deletions was high in both the endocardial and epicardial tissues perfused by the occluded vessel as compared to myocardial tissues perfused by the unconstricted vessels. Our results show that specific mtDNA deletions similar to the 5 kb and 7.4 kb human mtDNA deletions occur following canine myocardial ischemia. However the presence of these deletions did not correlate with specific mitochondrial enzyme defects.