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Biomedical subjects

D J Duncker

Publications and source records attributed to D J Duncker.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Endogenous adenosine and coronary vasoconstriction in hypoperfused myocardium during exercise.

OBJECTIVE: The coronary circulation has been shown to remain responsive to vasodilator and vasoconstrictor stimuli during myocardial ischaemia. The aim of this study was to investigate whether endogenous adenosine attenuates coronary vasoconstriction caused by the thromboxane A2 analogue, U46619. METHODS: Nine chronically instrumented dogs were studied during treadmill exercise in the presence of a coronary stenosis which resulted in distal left circumflex coronary artery hypoperfusion. Myocardial blood flow was assessed with radioactive microspheres during exercise prior to and during intracoronary infusion of U46619 (0.01 microgram.kg-1 x min-1), in the absence and the presence of adenosine receptor blockade with intravenous 8-phenyltheophylline (5 mg.kg-1) and intracoronary adenosine deaminase (50 units.kg-1). Distal coronary pressure was maintained constant during the control stenosis and the three interventions, at 49(SEM 3), 50(3), 50(3), and 50(3) mm Hg. RESULTS: During control exercise mean myocardial blood flow was 0.91(0.09) ml.min-1 x g-1 in the stenosis region and 2.54(0.28) in the normal region. With no change in distal coronary pressure, U46619 decreased mean myocardial blood flow to 0.70(0.10) ml.min-1 x g-1 (p < 0.05). Adenosine blockade alone decreased myocardial blood flow in the stenosis region to 0.60(0.07) ml.min-1 x g-1 (p < 0.05 v control stenosis), indicating that endogenous adenosine contributed to coronary vasodilatation in the ischaemic region. However, adenosine blockade did not augment the vasoconstriction in response to U46619 [mean myocardial blood flow 0.49(0.05) ml.min-1 x g-1], indicating that endogenous adenosine did not attenuate the vasoconstriction caused by U46619. CONCLUSIONS: Endogenous adenosine contributed to dilatation of resistance vessels in hypoperfused myocardium of exercising dogs in the absence as well as in the presence of U46619. However, endogenous adenosine did not attenuate the magnitude of the vasoconstrictor response to U46619. These findings are best explained by observations that thromboxane A2 and adenosine act on coronary vascular segments of different size.

15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5↗

L-propionylcarnitine does not affect myocardial metabolic or functional response to chronotropic and inotropic stimulation after repetitive ischemia in anesthetized pigs.

In postischemic myocardium, fatty acid oxidation may be deficient owing to depletion of carnitine and citric acid cycle intermediates and fatty acylCoA-induced inhibition of adenine nucleotide translocase. During postischemic stress, the impairment of the fatty acid oxidation may become more apparent. We therefore investigated in open-chest anesthetized pigs the effect of L-propionylcarnitine [100 mg/kg per day orally (p.o.) for 3 days and 50 mg/kg intravenously (i.v.) 2 h before the first occlusion; n = 13] on myocardial function and metabolism of postischemic (two cycles of 10-min occlusion each followed by 30-min reperfusion) myocardium under resting conditions and during chronotropic and inotropic stimulation with dobutamine. Myocardial levels of free carnitine were higher after pretreatment (5.7 +/- 1.4 vs. 4.0 +/- 1.3 mumol/g protein, p < 0.05). The ischemia-reperfusion-induced decreases in free carnitine were similar for both the untreated and treated animals, but in the latter free carnitine was not different from the baseline levels in the control animals. In untreated animals (n = 15), regional systolic segment shortening (SS) was 18.5 +/- 5.5% (means +/- SD) at baseline, but was reduced to 5.1 +/- 5.5% (p < 0.05) at the end of the second reperfusion period. Myocardial ATP levels had decreased by 30% (p < 0.05) in the presence of a maintained energy charge, while myocardial oxygen and lactate consumption had decreased to 61% and 9% of baseline, respectively. During subsequent i.v. infusion of dobutamine (2 micrograms/kg/min), SS and myocardial oxygen consumption per beat increased to 75 and 65% of baseline, respectively, whereas lactate consumption per beat increased to only 25% of baseline. Decreases in myocardial ATP and oxygen and lactate consumption were not different between treated and untreated animals. L-Propionylcarnitine-treated animals displayed slightly better postischemic recovery of systolic SS than did control animals; to 39 and 28% (p = 0.056) of baseline, respectively, probably owing to a reduction in arterial blood pressure (BP), because L-propionylcarnitine prevented the increase in systemic vascular resistance produced by ischemia-reperfusion. L-Propionylcarnitine did not affect myocardial metabolic and contractile functional responses to chronotropic and inotropic stimulation. In a model of repetitive myocardial ischemia, L-propionylcarnitine prevents systemic vasoconstriction in response to ischemia and reperfusion and, probably as a result of the lower afterload, slightly ameliorates postischemic hypofunction, but loss of carnitine apparently does not play a role in myocardial hypofunction after brief repetitive ischemia and reperfusion in pigs.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

On the preservation and regulation of vascular tone in arteriovenous anastomoses during anesthesia.

In conscious pigs, arteriovenous anastomoses (AVAs) are in a constricted state so that < 5% of intra-atrially injected radioactive (15-microns-diam) microspheres are shunted to the lungs. Many of the anesthetic regimens frequently used in cardiovascular research dilate AVAs, thereby greatly increasing the percentage of microspheres reaching the lungs. This may seriously limit extrapolation of results obtained under anesthesia to the conscious state. We now describe that anesthesia with a combination of fentanyl and thiopental preserves the tone of AVAs, maintaining shunting under 4% of cardiac output. Furthermore, we studied in the carotid circulation of this model whether norepinephrine or 5-hydroxy-tryptamine (5-HT), both contained in perivascular nerves, is responsible for this tone. Consecutive antagonism of alpha 1-, alpha 2-, 5-HT1, and 5-HT2 receptors was obtained by sequential injection of prazosin, phentolamine, ketanserin, and methiothepin. Prazosin increased AVA blood flow, partly at the expense of extracerebral tissue blood flow, but preserved cerebral blood flow. None of the other antagonists had any additional significant effect. Therefore, in this model the tone in AVAs seems to be maintained by sympathetic norepinephrine-containing nerves via alpha 1-adrenoceptors.

Anesthesia↗

Role of K+ATP channels in coronary vasodilation during exercise.

BACKGROUND: The mechanism of metabolic regulation of coronary vascular tone is still unclear. Therefore, we examined the role of vascular smooth muscle K+ATP channels in regulating coronary blood flow under resting conditions, during increments in myocardial metabolic demand produced by treadmill exercise, and in response to a brief ischemic stimulus. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ten chronically instrumented dogs were studied at rest and during a four-stage exercise protocol under control conditions and during intracoronary infusion of the K+ATP channel blocker glibenclamide at rates of 10 and 50 micrograms.kg-1 x min-1. Glibenclamide (50 micrograms.kg-1 x min-1) decreased coronary blood flow at rest from 51 +/- 4 to 42 +/- 6 mL/min (P < .05), decreased myocardial oxygen consumption from 5.70 +/- 0.31 to 4.11 +/- 0.56 mL O2/min (P < .05), and decreased systolic wall thickening from 21 +/- 3% to 12 +/- 3% (P < .05). The depression of systolic wall thickening produced by glibenclamide was reversed when coronary blood flow was restored to the control level with intracoronary nitroprusside, indicating a primary effect of glibenclamide on coronary flow during resting conditions. However, glibenclamide did not impair the increases of coronary blood flow, myocardial oxygen consumption, and systolic wall thickening that occurred during exercise. In eight resting awake dogs, 50 micrograms.kg-1 x min-1 glibenclamide decreased the peak reactive hyperemia blood flow rate following a 20-second coronary occlusion from 149 +/- 14 mL/min during control conditions to 111 +/- 15 mL/min (P < .05), decreased the duration of reactive hyperemia from 49 +/- 6 to 33 +/- 3 seconds (P < .05), and decreased reactive hyperemia excess flow from 33 +/- 5 to 20 +/- 4 mL (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that K+ATP channels modulate coronary vasomotor tone under resting conditions and contribute to coronary vasodilation during ischemia. However, the coronary vasculature retains the capacity to dilate in response to increases in oxygen demand produced by exercise when K+ATP channels are blocked.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Coronary pressure-flow relation in left ventricular hypertrophy. Importance of changes in back pressure versus changes in minimum resistance.

Perfusion abnormalities in the pressure-overloaded hypertrophied left ventricle could result from an increase in minimum coronary resistance or an increase in effective back pressure due to increased extravascular compressive forces. Since the pressure-flow relation of the maximally vasodilated coronary bed allows dissociation of minimum resistance (inverse slope [1/alpha PF]) and back pressure (pressure at zero flow [Pf = 0]), the present study was undertaken to examine the coronary pressure-flow relation in left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Ascending aortic banding in eight dogs at 6-8 weeks of age (LVH group) increased the left ventricular to body weight ratio to 8.7 +/- 0.6 g/kg as compared with 4.8 +/- 0.2 g/kg in nine normal dogs (p < 0.05). Maximum coronary vasodilation was produced by infusion of adenosine (1 mg/kg per minute i.v.). The slope of the coronary pressure-flow relation (alpha PF) was 5.8 +/- 0.5 10(-2) (ml/min per gram)/mm Hg in the LVH group and 9.3 +/- 0.6 10(-2) (ml/min per gram)/mm Hg in the normal group (p < 0.05). alpha PF was significantly correlated with the left ventricular to body weight ratio but not with coronary pressure, suggesting that the degree of hypertrophy and not exposure to high coronary pressure was responsible for the observed decrease in alpha PF. Pf = 0 was 24.1 +/- 2.6 mm Hg in the LVH group and 11.7 +/- 1.2 mm Hg in the normal group (p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Reperfusion after brief repetitive ischemia in porcine myocardium does not alter expression of creatine kinase MM or mitochondrial ATPase mRNAs.

We examined whether the mRNA expression of creatine kinase MM isozyme (CKMM) and mitochondrial F1-ATPase, the key enzymes of intracellular energy transduction, are altered in porcine myocardium subjected to repeated brief periods of ischemia followed by reperfusion. The left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded for two cycles of 10 min with 30 min reperfusion in between, followed by the reperfusion up to 210 min. Systolic wall thickening was significantly decreased at 30 min reperfusion after both occlusions and remained depressed during reperfusion. In Northern blot analysis 1.5 kb CKMM and 1.9 F1-ATPase mRNA species were detected in sham, nonischemic and ischemic myocardial tissues. Densitometric analysis of signals showed a 30% decrease of the CKMM mRNA expression (p < 0.05 as compared to nonischemic area of the same heart and sham operated animals) only during the first period of ischemia. Reperfusion as well as the subsequent period of ischemia did not alter expression of CKMM mRNA. The expression of F1-ATPase mRNA remained unchanged during ischemia and reperfusion. We conclude that reperfusion after brief myocardial ischemia in swine is not associated with changes in CKMM and F1-ATPase mRNA expression. Our findings would support the hypothesis that myocardial stunning is not caused by altered expression of energy transducing enzymes.

Animals↗

Altered coronary flow reserve in the hypertrophied heart: implications for therapy.

Coronary flow reserve has been shown to be abnormally low in several models of left ventricular hypertrophy induced by long-standing pressure overload. Because the presence of hypertrophy is a risk factor for the development of subendocardial ischaemia and sudden death, efforts to restore alterations in flow reserve may prove beneficial. In the following review, we discuss potential mechanisms which might contribute to this abnormal vasodilator capacity in the hypertrophied heart, with particular emphasis on how chronic therapy may potentially reverse such abnormalities. In addition, we report how the acute administration of various classes of pharmacological agents can alter measurements of coronary flow reserve, as observed in our anaesthetised swine model. Such factors must be considered before interpreting any changes in coronary flow reserve in models of hypertrophy following chronic administration of drugs.

Animals↗

L-propionylcarnitine and myocardial performance in stunned porcine myocardium.

Recently, we showed that L-propionylcarnitine did not affect recovery of regional contractile function of porcine myocardium subjected to 1 h of low-flow ischemia followed by 2 hr of reperfusion. In that study, ischemia may have been too severe and/or the duration of reperfusion too short to detect a beneficial effect of the compound. Therefore, in the present study we investigated the effects of saline (control group; n = 14) or pretreatment with L-propionyl-carnitine (3 days of 50 mg/kg p.o. b.i.d. + 50 mg/kg i.v. prior to the experiment; n = 13) on recovery of regional contractile function of the myocardium in open-chest anesthetized pigs, subjected to two cycles of 10 min of left anterior descending coronary artery (LADCA) occlusion, each followed by 30 min of reperfusion. In the control animals, at the end of the second reperfusion period, systemic vascular resistance had increased by 18%, which, however, was not observed in the L-propionylcarnitine-treated pigs. In the control group, during the first occlusion, systolic segment length shortening (SSLS) of the LADCA-perfused area decreased from 18.5 +/- 5.5% to -3.7 = 3.2%. After 30 min of reperfusion, SSLS of the LADCA-perfused area had only partially recovered to 6.2 +/- 5.9%. During the second occlusion-reperfusion cycle similar values for SSLS were observed. In the treated animals, SSLS of the LADCA-perfused area was slightly improved after the second occlusion-reperfusion cycle (p = 0.056). This effect did not result in an overall improvement in cardiac pump function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Pressure-maximal coronary flow relationship in regionally stunned porcine myocardium.

In view of variable results on maximal coronary blood flow in stunned myocardium, we studied the pressure-maximal coronary flow (PMCF) relationship in stunned myocardium in 12 anesthetized swine by using intracoronary adenosine (20 micrograms/kg). Subendocardial systolic segment shortening (SS) measured with sonomicrometry was 19 +/- 5% (means +/- SD) at baseline and 7 +/- 6% (P less than 0.01) at 30 min of reperfusion after 15 min of low-flow ischemia, at which time postsystolic shortening was present. Myocardial stunning increased the slope of the PMCF regression line (alpha PMCF) from 3.34 +/- 1.03 to 3.89 +/- 1.33 ml.min-1.mmHg-1 (P less than 0.01). Atrial pacing at 40 beats/min above spontaneous heart rate (n = 6) further reduced subendocardial SS to 6 +/- 6% (P less than 0.05). Dobutamine (4 micrograms.kg-1.min-1; n = 6) increased subendocardial SS to 13 +/- 5% (P less than 0.05) and abolished postsystolic shortening. Both interventions left alpha PMCF unchanged. In conclusion, myocardial stunning was associated with an increase in alpha PMCF that most likely resulted from the decreased contractile function. The absence of an effect of dobutamine may be due to its predominant action on diastolic function.

Animals↗

Recruitment of myocardial work and metabolism in regionally stunned porcine myocardium.

We characterized postischemic changes in myocardial metabolism and regional external work, as measured by the integral of left ventricular pressure-segment-length loops. In 12 anesthetized swine, the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was occluded for 10 min and reperfused for 30 min for two successive cycles. Before ischemia, regional work was 16,920 +/- 5,630 mmHg-mm/min and after stunning, work was reduced to 50 +/- 14% (P < 0.05). At baseline, oxygen and lactate consumption were 4.80 +/- 1.40 and 1.02 +/- 0.46 mumol.min-1 x g-1, respectively, and after stunning they were reduced to 3.24 +/- 0.80 (P < 0.05) and 0.16 +/- 0.21 mumol.min-1 x g-1 (P < 0.05), respectively. The atria were then paced 50 beats/min higher than the reperfusion heart rate, during and without an infusion of dobutamine (2 micrograms.kg-1 x min-1). During dobutamine, both regional external work and oxygen consumption returned to 98% of preischemic values, but lactate utilization remained depressed. We conclude that regional external work and oxygen consumption remain coupled during inotropic stimulation after stunning, with a preferential shift toward nonlactate substrates.

Animals↗

Catecholamines and regional hemodynamics during isovolemic hemodilution in anesthetized pigs.

The effects of stepwise isovolemic hemodilution on systemic and regional hemodynamics, oxygen flux, and circulating catecholamines were studied in six pigs anesthetized with midazolam and fentanyl. Reduction of the hematocrit from 28 to 9% resulted in doubling of the cardiac output, mainly due to an increase in stroke volume. Regional blood flows, measured using the radioactive microsphere technique, showed an increase in blood flow to all organs except liver (hepatic artery fraction) and adrenals, with a redistribution of cardiac output in favor of heart and brain (increase in blood flow 420 and 170%, respectively). Oxygen flux to most organs did not decrease until hematocrit decreased to 9%, while total body oxygen consumption was well maintained. Left ventricular oxygen consumption increased, but because left ventricular blood flow also increased, left ventricular extraction ratio did not increase. Circulating catecholamines did not play any role in these regulatory mechanisms.

Anesthesia↗

Serotonin selectively aggravates subendocardial ischemia distal to a coronary artery stenosis during exercise.

BACKGROUND: The coronary circulation has been shown to remain responsive to vasodilator and vasoconstrictor stimuli during myocardial ischemia. Because serotonin possesses both vasodilator and vasoconstrictor properties, we examined its effect in the coronary circulation distal to an arterial stenosis that resulted in myocardial hypoperfusion during exercise. METHODS AND RESULTS: Seven chronically instrumented dogs were studied during treadmill exercise in the presence of a stenosis that reduced distal left circumflex coronary artery perfusion pressure to 42 +/- 1 mm Hg. Myocardial blood flow was assessed with radioactive microspheres during exercise before and during intracoronary infusion of 0.4 and 2.0 micrograms/kg-1.min-1 serotonin. The stenosis was adjusted to maintain distal coronary pressure constant during control exercise and with the two doses of serotonin. In seven dogs, the effect of serotonin (2.0 micrograms/kg-1.min-1) was also studied during exercise with normal arterial inflow. During control exercise, the stenosis decreased mean myocardial blood flow to 45% of flow in the normally perfused region. This decrease was most pronounced in the subendocardium (endocardial/epicardial ratio 0.36 +/- 0.06 versus 1.46 +/- 0.14 in the control region; p < 0.01). With no change in pressure distal to the stenosis, serotonin decreased subendocardial flow from 0.51 +/- 0.09 ml/min-1.g-1 to 0.41 +/- 0.12 (p < 0.05) and then to 0.35 +/- 0.08 ml/min-1.g-1 (p < 0.05) and tended to increase subepicardial flow from 1.47 +/- 0.17 to 1.91 +/- 0.23 and 1.85 +/- 0.21 ml/min-1.g-1 (p = 0.08) during infusions of 0.5 and 2.0 micrograms/kg-1.min-1, respectively, with no change in total arterial inflow. In contrast, in the absence of a stenosis, serotonin (2.0 micrograms/kg-1.min-1) increased subendocardial flow from 2.43 +/- 0.25 to 3.73 +/- 0.25 ml/min-1.g-1 (p < 0.01) and subepicardial flow from 1.88 +/- 0.20 to 5.29 +/- 0.38 ml/min-1.g-1 (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: During normal arterial inflow, serotonin dilated coronary resistance vessels and increased flow to all myocardial layers. During hypoperfusion, a vasodilator response was still present in the subepicardium, but vasoconstriction was then observed in the subendocardium. Our data suggest that serotonin constricts the intramural penetrating arteries, thereby selectively increasing resistance to subendocardial blood flow.

Animals↗

Proto-oncogene expression in porcine myocardium subjected to ischemia and reperfusion.

The molecular basis of myocardial adaptation to ischemia and reperfusion is poorly understood. It is thought that nuclear proto-oncogenes act as third messengers, converting cytoplasmic signal transduction into long-term changes of gene expression. We studied the expression of six nuclear proto-oncogenes (Egr-1, c-fos, fosB, c-jun, junB, and c-myc) in myocardium subjected to ischemia and reperfusion in anesthetized pigs. Stunning was achieved by two 10-minute left anterior descending coronary artery occlusions separated by 30 minutes of reperfusion. Hearts were excised after the first occlusion, after the first reperfusion, and at 30, 120, 150, and 210 minutes of reperfusion after the second occlusion. Total RNA was prepared from stunned as well as normally perfused myocardial tissue and subjected to Northern blotting. The response of the six nuclear proto-oncogenes varied.fosB gene expression was never detected. The c-myc gene was expressed, but its level was unchanged by ischemia. c-jun expression was slightly increased by ischemia (3.1 +/- 0.6-fold). The c-fos, Egr-1, and junB genes were highly induced, being fivefold to sevenfold higher in experimental than in control tissue. In three animals pretreated with the beta 1-antagonist metoprolol and then subjected to the above experimental protocol, the induction of proto-oncogenes was similar to that in nonblocked controls. Our results show that the myocardial adaptive response to ischemic stress includes the induction of at least four transcription factors that may be further operative in repair processes and angiogenesis.

Animals↗

Endothelium dependent vasodilatation following brief ischaemia and reperfusion in anaesthetised swine.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim as to compare the responses of intracoronary infusions of ATP, an endothelium dependent vasodilator, with adenosine following brief ischaemia (10 min) and reperfusion in a model of myocardial stunning. DESIGN: In group 1 (n = 6), coronary blood flow and endocardial (endo) and epicardial (epi) percent segment length shortening were measured in the distribution of the left anterior descending coronary artery before and during maximal intracoronary infusions of either adenosine or ATP (20 micrograms.kg-1.min-1). Measurements were obtained before and after myocardial stunning both at control heart rate and during atrial pacing (150 beats.min-1). In group 2 (n = 6), myocardial blood flows by microspheres and arterial-venous lactate and oxygen differences were determined following the same ischaemia-reperfusion protocol to characterise transmural changes in blood flow and metabolism in this model of stunning. EXPERIMENTAL MATERIAL: The experiments were done on 12 anaesthetised swine, weight 25-39 kg. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In group 1, baseline endo and epi segment length shortening were 16(SD 3)% and 14(6)% and following reperfusion were reduced to 10(4)% and 8(6)% respectively (p less than 0.05). Prior to stunning, minimal coronary resistances during adenosine and ATP were 0.81(0.40) and 0.76(0.25) mm Hg.min.ml-1 respectively and following reperfusion were 0.86(0.31) (NS) and 0.85(0.23) (NS) mm Hg.min.ml-1 respectively. Infusion of either vasodilator enhanced function by 30% following reperfusion whereas no such effect was observed prior to ischaemia. In group 2, no maldistribution of blood flow was observed following the same ischaemia-reperfusion protocol to account for this vasodilator enhancement in function. Percent lactate extraction values were 29(11)% and 25(14)% at preischaemic control and paced heart rates respectively, and following reperfusion were lowered to 0(12)% without pacing (p less than 0.05) and -1(34)% during pacing (p less than 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Brief ischaemia and reperfusion in swine induces myocardial stunning without altering the vasodilator responses of either ATP, an endothelium dependent vasodilator, or adenosine. Recruitment in postischaemic segment length shortening was observed during infusions of both vasodilators at a time when maldistribution of flow was not observed. Possible mechanisms include either enhanced washout of lactate from the reperfused myocardium or greater utilisation of substrates during higher blood flows.

Adenosine↗

Effect of antiischemic therapy on coronary flow reserve and the pressure-maximal coronary flow relationship in anesthetized swine.

The effect of nifedipine (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 micrograms/kg/min), metoprolol (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/kg), the beta 1-selective adrenoceptor partial agonist epanolol (10, 50, and 200 micrograms/kg), or equivalent volumes of isotonic saline (n = 6, in each group), on coronary blood flow capacity were studied in anesthetized swine. Intracoronary bolus injections of adenosine (20 micrograms/kg/0.2 ml) were administered without and during three levels of coronary stenosis, prior to and following each dose of drug, to obtain maximal coronary blood flows at different perfusion pressures in the autoregulatory range. Coronary perfusion pressures were varied by partial inflation of a balloon around the left anterior descending coronary artery. Special care was taken that the stenoses not lead to myocardial ischemia. Three indices of coronary blood flow capacity were used: absolute coronary flow reserve (ACFR, the ratio of maximal to resting coronary blood flow), the slope and the extrapolated pressure at zero flow (Pzf) of the pressure-maximal coronary flow (PMCF) relationship, and relative coronary flow reserve (RCFR, the ratio of maximal coronary blood flow with a stenosis to maximal coronary blood flow without a stenosis) at two of the three levels of stenosis. Nifedipine decreased ACFR from 4.5 +/- 1.9 to 1.9 +/- 0.3 (mean +/- SD; p less than 0.05), reflecting in part the increase in resting coronary blood flow. The nifedipine-induced changes in maximal coronary blood flow were not only due to a drop in perfusion pressure, as the slope of the PMCF relationship decreased from 2.27 +/- 0.49 ml/(min.mm Hg) to 1.54 +/- 0.51 ml/(min.mm Hg) (p less than 0.05), and Pzf decreased from 30 +/- 4 mm Hg to 20 +/- 7 mm Hg (p less than 0.05). Consequently, calculated maximal coronary blood flow was attenuated from 114 +/- 31 ml/min to 93 +/- 37 ml/min at 80 mm Hg, but was enhanced from 23 +/- 13 to 37 +/- 24 ml/min at 40 mm Hg coronary perfusion pressure. In concert with the change in the PMCF relationship, RCFR at equivalent severe stenosis increased from 0.33 +/- 0.06 to 0.47 +/- 0.10 (p less than 0.05). No changes were observed with metoprolol, epanolol, or saline. The effect of nifedipine on the PMCF relationship not only provides a mechanism for the drug's antiischemic action, but should also be considered in the interpretation of coronary flow reserve measurements in patients on nifedipine treatment.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Evidence against a role for dopamine D1 receptors in the myocardium of the pig.

1. We investigated the presence of dopamine D1 receptors in the myocardium of anesthetized pigs using intravenous infusions of dopamine, alone and after alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor blockade and intracoronary infusions of the selective D1 receptor agonist, fenoldopam. 2. Intravenous infusion of dopamine (2.5, 5 and 10 micrograms kg-1 min-1 for 10 min, n = 6) caused dose-dependent changes in heart rate (from 94 +/- 6 to 132 +/- 10 beats min-1, P less than 0.05), the maximal rate of rise of left ventricular pressure (LVdP/dtmax; from 2280 +/- 170 to 4800 +/- 410 mmHgs-1, P less than 0.05), mean arterial blood pressure (from 87 +/- 5 to 62 +/- 3 mmHg) and systemic vascular resistance (from 40 +/- 4 to 28 +/- 2 mmHgl-1 min, P less than 0.05). The increases in heart rate and LVdP/dtmax were abolished when dopamine was infused after alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor blockade. The vasodilator response was, however, only minimally affected. 3. Intravenous infusions of dopamine decreased coronary vascular resistance from 0.90 +/- 0.06 to 0.53 +/- 0.07 mmHg ml-1 min 100 g (P less than 0.05). This action of dopamine was not observed when dopamine was infused after blockade of the alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors. 4. Pretreatment with alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor blockade had no effect or only slightly attenuated the dopamine-induced decrease in vascular resistance of the brain, kidneys, adrenals and small intestine. 5. In 7 animals, intracoronary doses of 0.04, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4g kg1- min 1 of fenoldopam had no effect on coronary venous oxygen content, local myocardial oxygen consumption, coronary blood flow or coronary vascular resistance. However, systemic effects were observed at the highest two doses, as manifested by a drop in mean arterial blood pressure from 82 +/- 4 to 72 +/- 4mmHg (P < 0.05) due to peripheral vasodilatation (e.g. cerebral vascular bed). Heart rate, LVdP/dt,.,, regional myocardial segment length shortening and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure were not affected at these doses. In 2 animals the infusion rate was increased to 4jug kg1 min 1, but again there was no evidence for coronary vasodilatation. 6. We conclude that the intravenous infusion of dopamine after alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor blockade and the intracoronary infusion of fenoldopam provided no evidence for a major role of D1 receptors in the coronary circulation of pigs. The absence of any effect of the employed doses of fenoldopam on LVdP/dt.mx and on regional myocardial segment length shortening also indicates that fenoldopam does not exhibit any inotropic action in this species.

2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-ben↗

Redistribution of cardiac output caused by opening of arteriovenous anastomoses by a combination of azaperone and metomidate.

The effects of the butyrophenone, azaperone 5 mg kg-1 i.m. alone and after addition of the imidazole derivative metomidate 6 mg kg-1 i.v. were studied in eight conscious pigs. Fifteen minutes after administration of azaperone, systemic arterial pressure was reduced by 35% as a result of a 45% increase in systemic vascular conductance and 10% decrease in cardiac output (Q). After azaperone, 23% of the radioactive labelled microspheres (15 (SD 1) microns) injected into the left atrium were detected in the lungs as a result of opening of arteriovenous anastomoses (baseline 3%). The increase in arteriovenous anastomotic blood flow was at the expense of the nutritional (= capillary) channels. Flow to the brain was maintained, but that to the left ventricle decreased in parallel with the reduction in arterial pressure. Vascular conductance of most other organs, except the skin, increased or was maintained. The addition of metomidate had no effect on Q because an increase in stroke volume (by 30%) compensated for the decrease in heart rate. Systemic vascular conductance decreased, most noticeably in the brain, left ventricle and skeletal muscle. We conclude that azaperone alone and in combination with metomidate had only a moderate effect on Q, but caused a redistribution in favour of arteriovenous anastomoses.

Animals↗