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Biomedical subjects

B D Guth

Publications and source records attributed to B D Guth.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Guanidine derivatives as combined thromboxane A2 receptor antagonists and synthase inhibitors.

A new series of omega-disubstituted alkenoic acid derivatives derived from samixogrel 5 were designed and synthesized as combined thromboxane A2 receptor antagonists/thromboxane A2 synthase inhibitors with improved solubility and reduced protein binding compared to 5. Hexenoic acid derivatives with a 3-pyridyl group and 3-(2-cyano-3-alkyl-guanidino)phenyl substituent were found to be optimal with regard to this dual mode of action. The most potent compound, E-6-(3-(2-cyano-3-tert-butyl-guanidino)phenyl)-6-(3-pyridyl)hex-5-eno ic acid, "terbogrel" 32 inhibits the thromboxane A2 synthase in human gel-filtered platelets with an IC50 value of 4.0 +/- 0.5 nM (n = 4). Radioligand binding studies with 3H-SQ 29,548 revealed that 32 blocks the thromboxane A2/endoperoxide receptor on washed human platelets with an IC50 of 11 +/- 6 nM (n = 2) and with an IC50 of 38 +/- 1 nM (n = 15) in platelet-rich plasma. Terbogrel inhibits the collagen-induced platelet aggregation in human platelet-rich plasma and whole blood with an IC50 of 310 +/- 18 nM (n = 8) and 52 +/- 20 nM (n = 6), respectively. This was shown to translate into a potent antithrombotic effect in vivo as demonstrated in studies using a model of arterial thrombosis in rabbits (ED50 = 0.19 +/- 0.07 mg/kg; n = 20). Thus, terbogrel is the first compound with a guanidino moiety demonstrating both a potent TXA2 synthase inhibition and a potent TXA2 receptor antagonism and has been selected for further clinical development.

Animals↗

Effects of the specific bradycardic agent zatebradine on hemodynamic variables and myocardial blood flow during the early postresuscitation phase in pigs.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) leads to an excessive stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system that may result in tachycardia and malignant arrhythmias in the postresuscitation phase. The attenuation of this reaction by a specific bradycardic agent has not been compared to beta-blockade and placebo. After 4 min of ventricular fibrillation, and 3 min of CPR, 21 pigs were randomized to receive 45 microg/kg epinephrine in combination with either a specific bradycardic agent (0.5 mg/kg zatebradine; n = 7), or a beta-blocker (1 mg/kg esmolol; n = 7), or placebo (normal saline; n = 7). Two minutes after drug administration, defibrillation was performed to restore spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Hemodynamic variables, left ventricular contractility, right ventricular function, and myocardial blood flow were studied at prearrest, and for 3 h after ROSC. In comparison with esmolol and placebo, zatebradine resulted in a significant reduction in heart rate during the postresuscitation period, and reduced the number of premature ventricular contractions in the first 5 min after ROSC. This reduction in heart rate was associated with a significantly higher right ventricular ejection fraction, stroke volume, and endocardial/epicardial perfusion ratio at 5 min after ROSC. In comparison with placebo, esmolol administration decreased heart rate only moderately, but significantly reduced right ventricular stroke volume and cardiac output at 5 min after ROSC. Although only one dose and only one administration pattern of zatebradine has been investigated, we conclude that zatebradine administration during CPR effectively reduced heart rate without compromising myocardial contractility during the postresuscitation phase in pigs.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

DTTX30, a combined thromboxane receptor antagonist and thromboxane synthetase inhibitor, prevents coronary thrombosis in anesthetized dogs.

BACKGROUND: Combined thromboxane A2 receptor blockade and thromboxane synthetase inhibition facilitates local prostacyclin production at the site of platelet activation thereby providing a potent antithrombotic effect. The efficacy of DTTX30, a combined thromboxane A2 receptor blocker-thromboxane synthetase inhibitor, in inhibiting recurrent coronary thrombosis was evaluated in vivo using a canine model of unstable angina pectoris. METHODS AND RESULTS: Pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs (total of 25) were used in which acute damage of the proximal left circumflex coronary artery, together with mechanical stenosis, produced an occlusive thrombosis. When the platelet plug was removed by rubbing the vessel, the occlusion returned reproducibly for at least 2 hours in control studies. To evaluate the antithrombotic efficacy of DTTX30, a reproducible pattern of occlusive coronary thrombi was first established over a period of one hour. Thereafter, DTTX30 (0.12 mg/kg i.v. bolus plus 0.29 mg/kg/hr), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, 5 mg/kg, i.v. bolus), vapiprost (1.0 mg/kg i.v. bolus plus 1.0 mg/kg/ hr), or vehicle was administered and observations continued for one additional hour. At the end of the one hour observation period, epinephrine (0.3 microgram/kg/min i.v.) was infused (with continued DTTX30, vapiprost or vehicle infusion) and observations were continued for an additional 30 min. DTTX30 eliminated the recurrent arterial thrombus formation in all dogs without significant systemic or left ventricular hemodynamic effects. Infusion of epinephrine to further provoke thrombus formation produced a significant enhancement of left ventricular pressure development (LV dP/dt) and arterial diastolic and systolic pressures but failed to initiate thrombus formation. DTTX30 inhibited fully collagen-induced platelet aggregation ex vivo and produced an approximate 3-fold prolongation of the sublingual bleeding time. ASA eliminated thrombus formation in 4 of 5 dogs, but the additional prothrombotic stimulus of epinephrine infusion produced recurrent thrombus formation in all dogs. Collagen-induced platelet aggregation ex vivo was inhibited by acetylsalicylic acid, but sublingual bleeding time was unaffected. Vapiprost inhibited arterial thrombus formation in all dogs, but thrombus formation returned with the addition of epinephrine. There was a tendency for prolonged bleeding times with vapiprost administration and collagen-induced platelet aggregation ex vivo was effectively inhibited. CONCLUSION: These studied indicate that the combined inhibition of the thromboxane A2 receptor together with inhibition of thromboxane synthetase provides superior antithrombotic activity in vivo than does thromboxane A2 receptor blockade alone (vapiprost) or inhibition of cyclooxygenase (ASA). Thrombus formation even with the additional stimulation of epinephrine was inhibited by DTTX30 but neither vapiprost nor ASA was effective in this setting.

Animals↗

Antagonism of the GPIIb/IIIa receptor with the nonpeptidic molecule BIBU52: inhibition of platelet aggregation in vitro and antithrombotic efficacy in vivo.

The glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa (the alphallb beta3 integrin) found on platelets binds fibrinogen or von Willebrand factor when the platelet is activated, thereby mediating the aggregation of platelets. Blockade of the GPIIb/IIIa should prevent platelet aggregation independent of the substance or substances responsible for activating the platelets. This comprehensive inhibition of platelet aggregation is thought to be an effective therapeutic approach to various clinical thromboembolic syndromes. This study investigated the platelet inhibition provided by blocking GPIIb/IIIa by using a new nonpeptidic molecule, BIBU52, in both in vitro and in vivo models. BIBU52 competes with [125I]fibrinogen for binding sites on human platelets in a Ca2+ and pH-dependent manner with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 35 +/- 12 nM. BIBU52 inhibited the aggregation of human platelets in platelet-rich plasma induced by collagen (1-2 microg/ml), adenosine diphosphate (ADP; 2.5 microM), and a thrombin receptor-activating peptide (TRAP; SFLLRNPNDKYEPF-NH2; 25 microM) with IC50 values of 82, 83, and 200 nM, respectively. The inhibition of platelet aggregation by BIBU52 was found to be highly species dependent. BIBU52 inhibited aggregation in plasma from rhesus and marmoset monkeys with an IC50 of 150 nM but was totally ineffective in rat plasma. The selectivity of BIBU52 for inhibiting GPIIb/IIIa in comparison with other adhesion molecules was investigated in a human endothelial cell adhesion assay. The adhesion of human endothelial cells to matrices of vitronectin, fibronectin, collagen I, or laminin was not affected by concentrations as high as 100 microM BIBU52; thus BIBU52 demonstrates a high selectivity for the human GPIIb/IIIa. The antithrombotic effect of BIBU52 in vivo was investigated in three animal models of recurrent arterial thrombus formation. In the guinea pig aorta, BIBU52 inhibited thrombus formation dose dependently, with lack of thrombus formation for 1 h after a bolus dose of 1.0 mg/kg i.v.. Both acetylsalicylic acid and dazoxiben were less effective in this model. In pigs with recurrent thrombus formation in the carotid artery, 1.0 mg/kg i.v. also inhibited thrombus formation. Heparin was not effective in the pig, and acetylsalicylic acid was only partially effective. In the pig, the dose of 1.0 mg/kg i.v. BIBU52 also was associated with a 70% inhibition of collagen-induced platelet aggregation ex vivo but with only a transient prolongation of sublingual bleeding time to a maximum of 2.5-fold and without other hemodynamic effects. In the marmoset monkey, a dose of 10 microg/kg i.v. could abolish recurrent arterial thrombosis. Hemodynamic effects of BIBU52 in anesthetized pigs were not detected in doses < or = 10 mg/kg. These data demonstrate that BIBU52 is a potent and selective antagonist of the human GPIIb/IIIa receptor and capable of substantial inhibition of platelet aggregation in vitro and ex vivo as well as inhibition of arterial thrombus formation in vivo in animal models of thrombosis.

Animals↗

Heart rate and force-frequency effects on diastolic function of the left ventricle in exercising dogs.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies from our laboratory have shown pronounced augmentation of the force-frequency relation on myocardial contraction during exercise, but the influence of this effect on diastole has not been investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Accordingly, the effect of changing heart rate on left ventricular (LV) relaxation, filling dynamics, and pressure-volume relations during exercise was studied in eight conscious dogs. The exercise heart rate was slowed from 208 +/- 21 (SD) to 163 +/- 11 beats per minute by injection of a specific sinus node inhibitor (UL-FS 49, or zatebradine, 0.6 mg/kg) during continuous exercise. Heart rate was then abruptly restored to the predrug level by atrial pacing during continued exercise. LV volume was calculated by use of implanted ultrasonic crystals, and LV pressure was determine with an implanted micromanometer. Comparing conditions after pacing back to a heart rate of 210 beats per minute with those obtained when the heart rate was slowed by atrial pacing, LV dP/dtmax was increased by 27% at the higher rate (P < .01), despite a marked decrease in LV end-diastolic pressure (24 +/- 4 versus 10 +/- 5 mm Hg, P < .01) and the time constant of isovolumic LV pressure decay (tau) was significantly shortened (19 +/- 5 versus 14 +/- 4 milliseconds, P < .01). The peak rapid filling rate in early diastole (PFR) was not significantly changed by increasing the heart rate, since it was maintained at the slower rate. During exercise, at the slowed heart rate the early portion of the diastolic pressure-volume curve was significantly shifted upward and to the right compared with that at the physiological heart rate, but the late portion of the curve was unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that the negative inotropic effect of the force-frequency relation when heart rate was slowed during exercise caused pronounced impairment of LV relaxation and early filling dynamics. Conversely, an important component of the pronounced improvement of diastolic ventricular function during normal exercise was shown to result from exercise-induced enhancement of the positive inotropic effects of the force-frequency relation on myocardial contraction and relaxation.

Animals↗

Pharmacology of current and future antithrombotic therapies.

This article reviews the mode of action of pharmacologic agents for anti-thrombotic therapy. It refers to both clinically established drugs and new approaches currently under preclinical or clinical development. Advantages and limitations of the different pharmacologic strategies are discussed with special attention to their effects on local interaction between the blood and the vessel wall.

Animals↗

Changes in regional myocardial function and external work in exercising dogs with ischemia.

Changes in regional myocardial work of the nonischemic wall and left ventricular (LV) asynchrony of the nonischemic wall during exercise-induced ischemia were examined in seven conscious dogs instrumented with a micromanometer for LV pressure measurement and sonomicrometers for control and ischemic wall thickness and LV external short and long axes. Ischemia was produced during steady-state exercise by a pneumatic constrictor on the left circumflex coronary artery. Time difference between peak thickening of control (anterior) and ischemic (posterior) walls was measured as an index of LV asynchrony. LV pressure-wall thickness loop area of both the control wall (LVP-CW loop) and ischemic wall was calculated as an index of regional myocardial external work. With ischemia during exercise, peak LV pressure decreased by 11%, and time difference of peak thickening in the two walls increased, accompanied by marked deformation of the LVP-CW loop during early relaxation, which was related to protodiastolic thickening of the ischemic wall. Thus, despite a significant increase in percent systolic thickening during exercise, loop area of control wall was not enhanced. These changes of the LVP-CW loop were confirmed by calculation of stress-strain loop areas as an additional index of regional myocardial external work but having true dimensions of work. Stress-strain loop area in the control wall during ischemic exercise showed a similar value to that during control exercise, thereby confirming lack of compensatory increase. Thus, during exercise-induced ischemia, regional myocardial external work in the normal region does not increase despite an increase in systolic wall thickening.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Increased afterload intensifies asynchronous wall motion and impairs ventricular relaxation.

To clarify whether impaired left ventricular relaxation elicited by increased afterload is attributable to regional dyssynchrony, we analyzed in dogs simultaneous left ventricular contrast ventriculography and pressure before and during angiotensin II infusion. Regional shortening was measured by a centerline method and a video-intensity method that served to define asynchronous motion. During angiotensin II, peak left ventricular pressure increased 35 +/- 6 mmHg, and the isovolumic pressure time constant (tau) was prolonged from 32.7 +/- 4.1 to 39.2 +/- 7.6 ms (P < 0.01). During increased afterload, early diastolic asynchrony, confined to the apical (5 of 7) and inferior regions (2 of 7), was detected in all dogs. Early systolic asynchrony was detected in the apical (5 of 7) and inferior (1 of 7) regions in six dogs. At control, systolic excursion was lower in the anteroapical than in the anterobasal region (P < 0.05). During angiotensin II, excursion of all regions was reduced, with the apical region lower than other regions (P < 0.01). In the normal dog heart, impaired relaxation with augmented afterload is coincident with asynchronous wall motion, especially in the apical-inferior region. Temporal dispersion of regional contraction may explain delayed left ventricular relaxation associated with increased afterload.

Angiotensin II↗

Impact of alpha-adrenergic coronary vasoconstriction on the transmural myocardial blood flow distribution during humoral and neuronal adrenergic activation.

Increased heart rate and left ventricular pressure during humoral and neuronal adrenergic activation act to restrict blood flow preferentially in the subendocardium. The hypothesis was advanced that alpha-adrenergic coronary vasoconstriction preferentially in the subepicardium may counterbalance the enhanced extravascular compression in the subendocardium and serve to maintain blood flow transmurally uniform. In 40 anesthetized dogs, regional myocardial blood flow was determined with colored microspheres; wall function, with sonomicrometry. Humoral adrenergic activation (HAA) was induced by a combination of intravenous atropine, intravenous norepinephrine, and atrial pacing during baseline coronary vasomotor tone (group 1, n = 6) and in the presence of maximal coronary vasodilation with intravenous dipyridamole (group 2, n = 6). In an additional group, HAA was induced by intravenous norepinephrine in the presence of dipyridamole but without atropine and atrial pacing in order to increase end-diastolic left ventricular pressure (group 3, n = 6). Measurements were performed at rest, during HAA, and during ongoing HAA with the intracoronary infusion of the alpha-antagonist phentolamine (Phen). At unchanged mean aortic pressure, Phen improved blood flow particularly to the inner layers as follows: from 1.42 +/- 0.40 (mean +/- SD) to 1.90 +/- 0.40 mL/(min.g) (group 1, P < .05), from 4.99 +/- 2.31 to 5.53 +/- 2.56 mL/(min.g) (group 2, P < .05), and from 6.01 +/- 1.41 to 6.29 +/- 1.27 mL/(min.g) (group 3, P < .05), associated with a decrease in outer layer blood flow in groups 2 and 3. In 16 additional dogs, beta-adrenoceptors were blocked by propranolol and muscarinic receptors by atropine. Neuronal adrenergic activation (NAA) was induced by cardiac sympathetic nerve stimulation (CSNS) during baseline coronary vasomotor tone (group 4, n = 8) and in the presence of maximal vasodilation (group 5, n = 8). Measurements were performed at rest, during a first CSNS, and 20 minutes later during a second CSNS+Phen. The reproducibility of two consecutive episodes of CSNS 20 minutes apart was demonstrated in a separate set of experiments (n = 6). At matched mean aortic pressures, Phen improved blood flow to all myocardial layers in group 4, whereas in group 5, Phen induced a redistribution of myocardial blood flow toward subepicardial layers [from 4.44 +/- 0.96 to 4.81 +/- 0.83 mL/(min.g), P < .05] at the expense of inner layers. With the addition of Phen, there was no change in regional wall function in any group of dogs studied. Thus, during HAA, alpha-adrenergic coronary vasoconstriction does not exert a beneficial effect on transmural blood flow distribution. During NAA, a beneficial effect of alpha-adrenergic coronary vasoconstriction becomes apparent only under conditions of maximal coronary vasodilation.

Animals↗

Time course and mechanisms of contractile dysfunction during acute myocardial ischemia.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to characterize the functional and metabolic adjustments of a myocardial region subjected to low-flow ischemia. In addition, studies tested whether such myocardium retains an inotropic reserve. METHODS AND RESULTS: Anesthetized swine were studied in which the left anterior descending coronary artery was cannulated and perfused at a constant low level causing regional contractile dysfunction (sonomicrometry for wall thickness) and the appearance of metabolic indicators of ischemia (decrease in creatine phosphate and lactate production) with only slight loss of ATP and glycogen (transmural biopsies). After 85 minutes of low-flow ischemia, dobutamine was infused into the hypoperfused artery as an inotropic challenge. Coronary hypoperfusion for 5 minutes resulted in a 54% reduction of regional systolic wall thickening, reversal of lactate consumption to lactate production, and a significant decrease in creatine phosphate. Subendocardial blood flow was reduced from 0.62 +/- 0.11 (+/- SD) to 0.16 +/- 0.07 mL.min-1.g-1. Prolonged hypoperfusion for 85 minutes resulted in no further change in regional blood flow but a partial recovery of metabolic parameters. Dobutamine infusion after 85 minutes of hypoperfusion increased regional myocardial work. However, again lactate production was significantly increase and creatine phosphate was decreased. Regional coronary hypoperfusion produces a downregulation of regional contractile function in proportion to the blood flow decrease. With prolonged hypoperfusion, after the initial adjustment phase, there is little further change in function, and metabolic markers of ischemia improve. Although the ischemic downregulated myocardium retains a significant inotropic reserve, primarily anaerobic energy production is utilized. CONCLUSIONS: These data are consistent with downregulation being a protective mechanism for the ischemic myocardium to restore an energy supply-demand balance in the face of reduced blood flow. Inotropic stimulation of the downregulated myocardium enhances regional function but at the cost of worsening its metabolic status. Thus, inotropic stimulation of the hypoperfused and downregulated myocardium is probably detrimental to long-term viability.

Acute Disease↗

Reduction of exercise-induced regional contractile dysfunction in dogs using a novel calcium channel blocker (Ro 40-5967).

Ro 40-5967 is a calcium channel blocker with a novel chemical structure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Ro 40-5967 on systemic hemodynamics and regional contractile function in a canine model of chronic coronary artery stenosis in which no contractile dysfunction is observed at rest, but dynamic exercise elicits regional myocardial ischemia and contractile dysfunction. Thirteen dogs were chronically instrumented with sonomicrometers for the measurement of wall thickness in the anterior and posterior left ventricular walls, a micromanometer for measuring left ventricular pressure (LVP) and its first derivative (dP/dt), and a catheter in the aorta for measuring systemic arterial pressure. An ameroid constrictor on the left circumflex coronary artery produced gradual constriction of the vessel such that treadmill exercise elicited regional contractile dysfunction. Runs were repeated 3 hours later after the administration of Ro 40-5967 (0.3 mg/kg, IV). During the control run, regional systolic wall thickening in the posterior wall fell from 25.5 +/- 6.3% (SD) to 15.9 +/- 5.1% (p less than 0.05). Ro 40-5967 did not change resting function in the poststenotic myocardium (26.9 +/- 8.4%) but improved regional function during the run to 18.2 +/- 6.2% (p less than 0.05). This improvement was associated with a slight decrease in the exercise heart rate (213 +/- 18 vs. 200 +/- 16 bpm, NS), no change in peak ventricular pressure (156 +/- 22 vs. 157 +/- 20 mmHg), mean aortic pressure (123 +/- 19 vs. 118 +/- 20 mmHg), dP/dt (5129 +/- 1143 vs. 5288 +/- 1120 mm Hg/sec), or systolic wall thickening in a distant control region.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Influence of the force-frequency relation on left ventricular function during exercise in conscious dogs.

BACKGROUND: The magnitude of the force-frequency effect on myocardial contractility in the conscious animal has been studied at rest, but it has not been assessed during exercise. METHODS AND RESULTS: The influence of heart rate (HR) changes were evaluated during treadmill exercise in eight preinstrumented, conscious dogs in which high-fidelity left ventricular (LV) pressure, LV volume (by sonomicrometry), and aortic pressure were measured. Under resting conditions, end-systolic pressure-volume relations were obtained using inferior vena caval occlusion. Dogs were run on a treadmill, and the intrinsic exercise HR was reduced by infusion of a specific bradycardic drug (UL-FS 49 0.5 mg/kg) during continuing exercise while HR was maintained at 240 beats per minute by atrial pacing. At 6 minutes of running at a fixed, paced HR when a stable drug effect had been achieved, no effects of UL-FS 49 on measures of LV contractility were detected compared with exercise before drug administration. HR was then reduced stepwise from 240 to 210, 180, or 150 beats per minute in a random manner, returning to 240 beats per minute between steps. Progressive reductions in measures of myocardial contractility occurred as the HR was slowed, and reduction of rate from 240 to 150 beats per minute reduced the LV maximum positive dP/dt by 31% and (dP/dt)DP40 by 21% despite increases in LV end-diastolic pressure. The entire end-systolic pressure-volume could not be determined during exercise, but beat-averaged end-systolic pressure-volume points during exercise were progressively shifted to the right and downward by slowing the exercise HR. Thus, a pronounced negative inotropic influence of slowing the heart was observed during exercise, and the rate of ventricular relaxation (tau) was also significantly prolonged. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that force-frequency effects on the inotropic state of the intact LV are markedly enhanced by exercise.

Animals↗

Recruitment of an inotropic reserve in moderately ischemic myocardium at the expense of metabolic recovery. A model of short-term hibernation.

The regional, functional as well as metabolic consequences of inotropic stimulation on myocardium subjected to prolonged moderate ischemia were investigated. In 35 enflurane-anesthetized swine the left anterior descending coronary artery was cannulated and perfused at constant flow. The vein paralleling the left anterior descending coronary artery was cannulated for measurement of lactate and oxygen content. Transmural biopsies from the anterior myocardium were taken for the measurement of ATP, creatine phosphate, and glycogen. After control measurements, flow was adjusted to reduce regional contractile function (expressed as a work index, determined by sonomicrometry) by approximately 50%. After either 5, 25, 40, or 85 minutes of moderate ischemia, dobutamine was infused for 5 minutes into the ischemic region. In a separate group of five swine also subjected to 85 minutes of ischemia followed by infusion of dobutamine and 2 hours of reperfusion, triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining and light microscopy were used to identify infarcted tissue. Moderate ischemia (regional myocardial blood flow, 0.21 +/- 0.07 ml.min-1.g-1, determined by radiolabeled microspheres) was associated with a reduction of creatine phosphate after 5 minutes (from 9.35 +/- 2.54 to 6.43 +/- 1.06 mumol/g wet wt, p less than 0.05) and a further reduction after 25 minutes (3.18 +/- 0.69 mumol/g wet wt, p less than 0.05). Thereafter, creatine phosphate recovered despite continued ischemia (after 40 minutes, 4.95 +/- 1.37 mumol/g wet wt; after 85 minutes, 5.78 +/- 2.27 mumol/g wet wt). Lactate consumption during control conditions was reversed to production after 5 minutes of ischemia, which moderated during more prolonged ischemia. Without changing regional myocardial blood flow, infusion of dobutamine increased the work index significantly at any time point but also caused worsening of metabolic markers of ischemia. Nevertheless, even after 85 minutes of ischemia followed by the infusion of dobutamine and 2 hours of reperfusion, there was no evidence of necrosis. This experimental model provides a means of characterizing the mechanisms of short-term hibernation.

Animals↗

Pressure-flow characteristics in the right and left ventricular perfusion territories of the right coronary artery in swine.

Regional pressure-flow relationships within the right coronary artery (RCA) circulation of swine were determined. Enflurane-anaesthetized swine (n = 7) were studied during step-wise reductions of RCA perfusion pressure using an extracorporeal circuit. Regional blood flow was measured using microspheres and contractile function of the right ventricle was measured using sonomicrometry. The RCA perfusion territory was divided into its anatomic components: right ventricular free wall (RV), interventricular septum (with further division in transmural thirds; SEP-LV, SEP-MID and SEP-RV) and right atrium (RA). Pressure-flow relations were constructed for each region and autoregulatory capacity assessed through calculation of an autoregulatory index (AI, closed-loop gain). The pressure-flow relationship for the entire RCA exhibited autoregulation down to a pressure of 40 mmHg. The SEP-LV exhibited a similar relationship with loss of autoregulation at approximately 40 mmHg. The pressure-flow relationship of the RV, however, showed autoregulation to a pressure of 30 mmHg with a decrease of blood flow only at a pressure of 20 mmHg. Little autoregulation was observed in the RA. Autoregulatory gain assessed by AI was similar in RV, SEP-LV and SEP-RV as pressure was reduced from 90 to 55 mmHg (RV = 0.54 +/- 0.41; SEP-LV = 0.58 +/- 0.36; SEP-RV = 0.83 +/- 0.36). With further reductions of pressure, AI was highest in the RV, followed by the SEP-RV and then SEP-LV.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Interventricular redistribution of myocardial blood flow during metabolic vasodilation.

To determine the effect of metabolic vasodilation on the blood flow distribution within the hypoperfused left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) of the pig (a perfusion bed containing both left and right ventricular myocardium), 28 anesthetized (isoflurane) pigs were studied during intracoronary dobutamine infusion (2.5 +/- 1, SD, micrograms/min) at two levels of reduced, constant coronary inflow. In 8 pigs, coronary inflow was reduced from 59 +/- 9 ml/min to 42 +/- 10 ml/min; coronary perfusion pressure fell to 62 +/- 2 mm Hg (8260 +/- 260 Pa) and then fell further to 54 +/- 6 mm Hg (7190 +/- 800 Pa) during dobutamine infusion. Subendocardial blood flow in the anterior wall of the left ventricle perfused by the LAD decreased from 0.64 +/- 0.12 ml min-1 g-1 with hypoperfusion alone, to 0.40 +/- 0.14 ml min-1 g-1 (P less than 0.002) with the addition of dobutamine. Conversely, blood flow to the right ventricular region supplied by the LAD increased significantly from 0.78 +/- 0.40 ml min-1 g-1 (hypoperfusion alone) to 0.92 +/- 0.50 ml min-1 g-1 (P less than 0.008) with dobutamine. In 10 pigs, a more severe reduction of coronary inflow to 26 +/- 12 ml/min and subsequent dobutamine infusion resulted in a similar redistribution of blood flow from the left to the right ventricular portion of the perfusion bed. Infusion of dobutamine during hypoperfusion, but with a pressure-constant perfusion system, was associated with increases in blood flow to both the right and left ventricular portions of the perfusion territory.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Heart rate reduction improves myocardial ischemia in swine: role of interventricular blood flow redistribution.

Regional myocardial blood flow (MBF) distribution and function upon slowing the heart rate (HR) during ischemia were studied in anesthetized swine, a species without coronary collaterals. Perfusion of the left anterior descending artery by a pump allowed controlled production of regional ischemia. Slowing tachycardia by electrical pacing (127 to 87 beats/min) caused marked improvement of regional dysfunction [% wall thickening (WTh) from 9 to 27%] and increased subendocardial MBF [from 0.31 to 0.55 ml.min-1.g-1 (P less than 0.001)] without change of subepicardial MBF. Total left ventricular (LV) MBF increased, whereas right ventricular (RV) MBF fell by 18% (P less than 0.02). The mechanism of MBF changes during slowed HR was assessed by surgically excluding the RV and comparing findings with previous experiments with RV intact when HR was slowed from 96 to 60 beats/min. A similar improvement of regional LV function occurred (8% vs. 30% WTh) with the RV excluded, but without a change in total flow to the LV bed, whereas subendocardial MBF increased and subepicardial MBF fell, indicating transmural redistribution only. These findings show that the RV vascular bed can contribute to LV perfusion in swine during ischemia, and they document the potential for "reverse RV steal" during slowed heart rate in this setting.

Animals↗

Measurement of regional myocardial blood flow with multiple colored microspheres.

BACKGROUND: The use of radioactive microspheres (RM) for the measurement of regional myocardial blood flow (RMBF) is limited and inaccessible to many investigators due to radiation safety concerns and radioactive waste disposal problems. Therefore, a new method for the measurement of RMBF using colored microspheres (CM) was developed. METHODS AND RESULTS: Polystyrene spheres (diameter, 15 +/- 0.1 [SD] micron; density, 1.09 g/ml) were dyed with one of five colors. With the injection of CM into the left atrium or into a coronary perfusion line, RMBF and its distribution can be determined. CM are extracted from the myocardium and blood by digestion with potassium hydroxide and subsequent microfiltration. The dyes are then recovered from the CM within a defined volume of a solvent, and their concentrations are determined by spectrophotometry. The separation of composite absorbance spectra by spectrophotometry with the CM technique was as good as the separation of energy spectra by a gamma-counter using the RM technique. Leaching of dye from the CM was less than 0.1% during a 2-month period in vitro. Significant leaching of dye from the microspheres also did not occur during 8 hours in the blood and myocardium of four anesthetized dogs in vivo. For further validation of this method, pairs of CM and RM (15.5 +/- 0.1 [SD] microns) were simultaneously injected under five different RMBF conditions (range, 0-10 ml/[min.g]) into the left anterior descending coronary artery of four anesthetized pigs, with coronary inflow as a flow reference, or into the left atrium of four anesthetized dogs using aortic blood withdrawal as a reference. The relation between RMBF determined by CM and RM was CM = 0.01 + 1.00.RM (r = 0.98, n = 1,080 data points) in the pigs, and CM = -0.19 + 0.92.RM (r = 0.97, n = 1,813 data points) in the dogs. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of RMBF with CM yields values very similar to those of RM. Their use is less expensive and avoids all the disadvantages related to radioactivity, thus offering an alternative method for as many as five RMBF measurements in a single experiment.

Animals↗

Interventricular coronary steal induced by stenosis of left anterior descending coronary artery in exercising pigs.

BACKGROUND: In pigs and humans, the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) supplies the left ventricular anterior wall (LVAW), anterior septum, and paraseptal band of the right ventricular anterior wall (RVAW). The purposes of our study were 1) to study the LAD flow distribution in these walls during preexercise, exercise, and exercise with LAD stenosis and 2) to analyze regional wall motion under these conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Nine pigs were instrumented with sonomicrometers for measuring percent wall thickening (%WTh) in LVAW, RVAW, and lateral (control) walls of both ventricles, a hydraulic occluder at the LAD origin, an LV pressure transducer, and catheters for radioactive microsphere injection (left atrium) and blood withdrawal (aorta). One month later, regional %WTh and flows were measured during preexercise, exercise, and continuing exercise with LAD stenosis resulting in more than 50% reduction in systolic LVAW %WTh with regard to exercise. LAD stenosis caused a dramatic decrease in total mean +/- SD LVAW subendocardial flow with regard to exercise (28.7 +/- 8 to 9.1 +/- 3.2 ml.min-1, p less than 0.0001) but not significant changes in either LVAW subepicardial flow or RVAW flow. The transmural distribution of flows within the LAD bed (as percentages of the total LAD flow in each experimental condition) showed that LAD stenosis redistributed flows with regard to exercise such that the LVAW subendocardial flow decreased from 26.4 +/- 4.2% of the total LAD flow to 11.8 +/- 4.3% (p less than 0.0001), whereas LVAW subepicardial flow increased from 32.9 +/- 2.3% of the total LAD flow to 45.5 +/- 7.9% (p less than 0.0001) and RVAW increased from 12 +/- 4.9% of the total LAD flow to 18.7 +/- 7.2% (p less than 0.0005). With exercise plus LAD stenosis, LVAW %WTh decreased from 43.2 +/- 8.4% to 17.2 +/- 9.7% (p less than 0.0001), but RVAW %WTh did not change. CONCLUSIONS: In the LAD bed of exercising pigs, LAD stenosis induces, in addition to transmural steal, an interventricular steal favoring the RVAW at the expense of the LVAW subendocardium. This steal results in preserved RVAW thickening despite severe LVAW hypokinesia.

Animals↗