A model of graded ischemia in the isolated perfused rat heart

Insertion of a flow pump into the Langendorff retrograde perfusion apparatus has permitted the production of stable, graded ischemia in hearts whose hemodynamic and metabolic response may be evaluated. Ventricular pressures were monitored with a modified balloon and catheter-tip manometer system, and oxygen consumption , lactate and glucose metabolism, and tissue high-energy phosphate stores measured. A 15-min stabilization period in 56 paced hearts was followed by 15 min of either full, 40, 30, 20, or 10% coronary flow, after which the ventricular tissue was freeze-clamped for tissue assay. Tissue creatine phosphate fell progressively from 23.7 in full flow hearts to 9.9 mumol/g dry wt after 90% reduction in flow. This was accompanied by a graded reduction in ATP from 20.3 to 14.0 mumol/g dry wt and a rise in AMP from 1.1 to 2.6 mumol/g dry wt. Tissue lactate rose progressively from 22.3 to 60.1 mumol/g dry wt. Hemodynamic function correlated with coronary flow. This preparation offers an opportunity to study pharmacological and metabolic interventions in ischemic heart disease.