Reduced high-energy phosphate levels in rat hearts. II. Effects of sodium cyanate

The effects of increased blood-oxygen affinity, due to carbamylation of hemoglobin in vivo, on aerobic metabolism in the heart were studied in rats. Adult male rats were injected intraperitoneally 3 times weekly for 10 wk with sodium cyanate (60 mg/kg). Significant derangement of blood-oxygen interaction was observed. Oxygen-dissociation curves were left shifted by 13 mmHg (35.1-21.8), and the overall deoxygenation rate (k) was reduced 41% (6.142-3.624; s(-1)); P is less than 0.001 for each parameter. Heart ATP and PCr levels were reduced (ATP: 19.4-16.7; PCr: 15.0-11.0, mum/g dry wt; P is less than 0.001 for each). In addition, glycogen levels fell (161.4-112.9, mum C6/g dry wt; P is less than 0.001). Myocardial lactate levels increased 54% (2.6-4.0, mum/g dry wt; P is less than 0.01) in the cyanate-treated group. These findings strongly suggest a hypoxia-induced activation of glycolysis as a consequence of altered oxidative metabolism in rats treated with sodium cyanate.