Rotational deformation of the canine left ventricle measured by magnetic resonance tagging: effects of catecholamines, ischaemia, and pacing

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the generation of rotation of the left ventricular apex with respect to the base by magnetic resonance tagging, a non-invasive method of labelling the myocardium, in a canine model. METHODS: 18 dogs were imaged at baseline and during: (1) inotropic stimulation with dobutamine; (2) chronotropic stimulation with atrial pacing; (3) anterior wall ischaemia; (4) posterior wall ischaemia; and (5) varying left ventricular activation site; six dogs underwent each intervention. Apical rotation of the apex (torsion) was quantified. The epicardium and the endocardium were considered separately, as were the anterior and posterior walls. RESULTS: Mean torsion of the epicardium anterior 3.1(SEM 1.2) degrees, posterior 9.9(1.0) degrees was less than that of the endocardium anterior 8.1(2.6) degrees, posterior 14.9(2.0) degrees, p < 0.05 for both. Anterior torsion was less than posterior torsion for both the epicardium, p < 0.05, and the endocardium, p < 0.05. Dobutamine increased torsion of both the epicardium anterior 13.3(2.2) degrees, posterior 12.6(1.7) degrees, p < 0.05 for both and the endocardium anterior 24.6(2.3) degrees, posterior 16.5(2.1) degrees, p < 0.05 for both. Atrial pacing at 160% baseline rate increased torsion of both the anterior wall epicardium 6.6(1.0) degrees, endocardium 11.3(1.2) degrees, p < 0.05 and the posterior wall epicardium 13.0(1.3) degrees, endocardium 19.4(1.9) degrees, p < 0.05. Anterior wall ischaemia reduced torsion of the anterior wall only epicardium -2.0(1.0) degrees, endocardium 6.7(2.3) degrees, both p < 0.05. Posterior wall ischaemia reduced torsion of the posterior wall of the epicardium only 7.1(1.2) degrees, p < 0.05 but also reduced torsion of the anterior wall epicardium 0.7(1.0) degrees, endocardium 2.4(1.6) degrees, p < 0.05 for both. Altering the pattern of left ventricular activation by atrioventricular pacing reduced torsion of the posterior wall of the epicardium 6.6(1.2) degrees, p < 0.05 and of the anterior 3.6(1.9) degrees, p < 0.05 and posterior 7.1(1.6) degrees, p < 0.05 walls of the endocardium. CONCLUSIONS: Rotational deformation of the left ventricle is dependent on the pattern of left ventricular activation and the contractile state. That a decrease in the contractile state in one area (by ischaemia) can cause a decrease in rotation in another suggests that this rotation depends on the complex fiber arrangement of the whole ventricle.