Glycogen metabolism and the effect of nitroglycerin on the glycogen metabolism in the normal and ischemic canine myocardium

Effects of LP-805, a newly developed vasodilator, on myocardial metabolism in ischaemic dog hearts

The effects of LP-805, a newly developed vasodilator, on changes in the myocardial energy and carbohydrate metabolism induced by ischaemia were studied in open-chest anaesthetized dogs. Ischaemia was induced by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery for 3 min. The myocardial energy stores were depleted, and the levels of glycolytic intermediates were altered 3 min after the onset of ischaemia. Energy change potential was decreased, and ([G6P] + [F6P])/[FDP] and [lactate]/[pyruvate] ratios were increased by ischaemia. These findings indicated that the myocardial metabolism was converted from an aerobic to an anaerobic type by ischaemia. LP-805 (10, 30, or 100 micrograms kg-1) was injected intravenously 5 min before the onset of ischaemia. LP-805 prevented the myocardial energy depletion and alterations of myocardial carbohydrate metabolism due to ischaemia, indicating that it appeared to convert the anaerobic metabolism back to aerobic metabolism in the ischaemic myocardium. In conclusion, LP-805 may reduce the ischaemic influence on the myocardium.

Effect of nipradilol on myocardial energy metabolism in the dog ischaemic heart

The effect of nipradilol, a newly developed beta-adrenoceptor blocking agent with a vasodilatory action, on myocardial energy metabolism has been examined in the dog ischaemic heart, and compared with that of propranolol. Ischaemia was induced by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. Either saline, nipradilol (0.3 mg kg-1), or propranolol (1 mg kg-1) was injected intravenously 5 min before coronary ligation. After 3 or 30 min of coronary ligation, the ischaemic region of the myocardium was removed, and the endocardial portion used to determine the levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP), creatine phosphate (CrP) and lactate. Ischaemia decreased the levels of ATP and CrP, and increased the levels of ADP, AMP and lactate. Immediately after the injection of nipradilol, rapid falls in blood pressure and heart rate were observed. Pretreatment with nipradilol lessened the decreases in the levels of ATP and CrP and the increases in the levels of AMP and lactate, caused by 3 min of ischaemia, to the same extent as propranolol. However, after 30 min of ischaemia, nipradilol had no effect on myocardial metabolism unlike propranolol. These results indicate that nipradilol can reduce ischaemic influences on myocardial metabolism as well as propranolol, but only in the early stages of ischaemia.

Effect of nadolol, a beta-adrenoceptor blocking agent, on myocardial metabolism in the dog ischaemic heart

The effect of nadolol at a dose of 1 mg kg-1, i.v. on the ischaemic myocardial metabolism has been examined in the dog. Ischaemia was induced by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery for 3 min, and nadolol was injected 5 min before ligation. Ischaemia caused myocardial metabolic changes; it decreased energy charge potential and inhibited glycolytic flux through phosphofructokinase reaction. Pretreatment with nadolol lessened the decrease in energy charge potential and the inhibition of glycolytic flux being caused by ischaemia. Nadolol may have a beneficial effect on the ischaemic myocardium.

On the role of cyclic nucleotides in the regulation of cardiac contractility and glycolysis during hypoxia

A possible involvement of cyclic nucleotides (cAMP and cGMP) in the regulation of cardiac contractility and glycolysis during hypoxia was examined in spontaneously beating rat atria. A reduction of the high oxygen saturation (HiOxSa) of the incubation medium from 95-100% to half produced a rapid decline of the amplitude. The deterioration of 50% was seen after 30 sec. of hypoxia. The decline was partly antagonized by noradrenaline (NA, 1 X 10(-6) M) or hypercalcaemia (5.7 X 10(-3) M instead of 1.9 X 10(-3) M). The cAMP level remained unchanged during the first 12 min. of hypoxia, but the cGMP content increased gradually and reached a significantly increased level in 4-8 min. Paradoxically, the production of lactate decreased, after 30 sec. of hypoxia, but accelerated then 2-4 min. after the onset of hypoxia. The depletion of creatine phosphate and ATP stores was initiated after 2 min. of hypoxia. The arterial content of the active forms of phosphofructokinase and lactate dehydrogenase gradually rose during hypoxia. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 1 X 10(-4) M) and NA produced increases in cGMP and cAMP levels, respectively, both in HiOxSa and hypoxia. SNP induced a slight and NA a marked increase in the amplitude in HiOxSa. Verapamil (1 X 10(-6) M) decreased the contractility, but did not affect the levels of cAMP and cGMP. Both SNP and verapamil decreased the lactate production, but they could not resist the NA-induced increase in the atrial lactate level. Hypercalcaemia increased the amplitude but slightly reduced the lactate production in HiOxSa. 45Ca-uptake was reduced to about 35 per cent of control as measured between 5 and 10 min. of hypoxia. It is concluded that the lack of oxygen could have direct and parallel effects on the sarcolemma and on the mitochondria. The former could result in the deterioration of contractility and the latter in the termination of aerobic energy production. Cyclic nucleotides are not involved in either of these phenomena. However, at the low rate of anaerobic glycolysis, e.g. in HiOxSa or at the very early stage of hypoxia, cGMP could inhibit and cAMP accelerate the lactate production.

Heterogeneity in distribution of cardiac glycogen following isoproterenol infusions in the dog

A combined biochemical, histochemical and cytochemical study was made of cardiac glycogen distribution following intravenous infusions of varying doses of isoproterenol in anaesthetized, open-chested dogs. There was a dose-dependent decrease in glycogen levels in biopsies of the posterolateral wall of the left ventricle which also exhibited a transmural gradient with the endocardial third the most severely affected. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) histochemical studies also suggested a transmural gradient. There was, however, a marked variability within each layer, particularly the large amounts in the conduction system fibres. The ultrastructural studies exhibited a marked variation in glycogen content from one cell to the next. This was particularly evident in the complete absence of absence of granules in the contraction band lesions of isoproterenol cardiotoxicity yet substantial amounts were retained in neighbouring cells. Isoproterenol, therefore, produces a heterogenous depletion of cardiac glycogen related to the scattered catecholamine-induced myocardial cellular lesions. These relations have not previously been documented or emphasized.

Effect of ouabain on myocardial metabolic and contractile responses to coronary ligation

The effect of pretreatment with ouabain (40 microgram/kg, i.v.) on myocardial metabolic and contractile responses to regional ischemia induced by coronary artery ligation was studied in the canine left ventricle. In control dogs, ischemia increased activity of phosphorylase a and the levels of glucose-6-phosphate and lactate, and decreased the levels of glycogen and phosphocreatine, without affecting the levels of adenosine triphosphate, adenosine diphosphate, and adenosine monophosphate (AMP). Ouabain increased the activity of phosphorylase a. In ouabain-treated dogs, ischemia did not further increase the phosphorylase a activity but it increased the epicardial AMP level. Other metabolic responses to ischemia in ouabain-treated dogs were similar to those in control dogs. In control dogs, myocardial contractile force decreased by about 10% after ischemia, but blood pressure and heart rate remained unchanged. Ouabain increased contractile force by about 32%. In ouabain-treated dogs, ischemia decreased contractile force by about 54% without affecting blood pressure and heart rate. It is concluded that ouabain increases the activity of the myocardial phosphorylase a and that the inotropic action of ouabain can be nullified by coronary artery ligation.