Free fatty acids and oxygen consumption in dogs

Effects of augmented delivery of pyruvate on myocardial high-energy phosphate metabolism at high workstate

This study was performed to determine whether the fall in myocardial high-energy phosphates (HEP) that occurs during high workstates can be ascribed to either inadequate glycolytic pyruvate generation and conversion to acyl-CoA or limitation of long-chain fatty acid transport into the mitochondria. This was tested by using infusions of either pyruvate or butyrate in anesthetized dogs. Pyruvate was used because it bypasses the glycolytic sequence of reactions, activates pyruvate dehydrogenase, and increases mitochondrial NADH concentration ([NADH(m)]) in isolated myocardium, whereas butyrate enters the mitochondria without need for transport by the rate-limiting, palmitoyl-carnitine transporter. Increasing blood pyruvate from 0.16 +/- 0.016 mM to >3 mM did not alter baseline HEP levels determined with (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance, but caused an increase in the rate-pressure product and a modest increase in myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO(2)). Infusion of dobutamine + dopamine (each 20 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1) iv) increased MVO(2) and caused decreases of myocardial phosphocreatine (PCr)/ATP. Pyruvate partially reversed the decrease of HEP levels produced by catecholamine stimulation, whereas butyrate had no effect. Neither pyruvate nor butyrate caused an increase of MVO(2) during catecholamine infusion. Deoxymyoglobin was not detected by (1)H magnetic resonance spectroscopyy in any group. The data demonstrate that carbon substrate availability to the mitochondria is not the only cause of the reduction of PCr/ATP that occurs at high workstates. Supplemental pyruvate (but not butyrate) attenuated the reduction of PCr/ATP during the high workstates; this may have resulted from direct effects on intermediary metabolism or from other effects such as the free radical scavenging activity of pyruvate.

Intravenous lipid infusion results in myocardial lipid droplet accumulation combined with reduced myocardial performance in heparinized rabbits

The question addressed in this study was whether a relation between myocardial lipid droplet accumulation and depressed myocardial function existed following intralipid infusion for 45 min in open chest, anaesthetized rabbits. One group of rabbits (n = 8) received intralipid infusion whereas a control group (n = 8) received sodium chloride. Local myocardial performance was obtained by sonomicrometry and the fractional volume of myocardial lipid droplets was measured by morphometric methods. The fractional volume of lipid droplets was 0.667 +/- 0.116% in the intralipid group compared with 0.318 +/- 0.080% in the control group (P < 0.03). Cardiac output and stroke volume fell 26% (P < 0.0001) and 34% (P < 0.0001), respectively, as a result of intralipid infusion. However, myocardial blood flow obtained by radiolabelled microspheres remained unchanged. Local myocardial function was reduced for both segments after intralipid infusion; maximal systolic shortening was reduced from 15.63 +/- 1.45 to 12.07 +/- 1.55% (P < 0.002) in the circumferential segment and from 9.46 +/- 1.17 to 7.40 +/- 0.53% (P < 0.05) in the longitudinal segment. The end-diastolic length of the circumferential segment was reduced by 3% (P < 0.05) after intralipid infusion. The reduced end-diastolic length of circumferential segments together with unchanged left ventricular end-diastolic pressure might indicate reduced left ventricular end-diastolic compliance. We conclude that acute intralipid infusion in rabbits results in myocardial lipid droplet accumulation and depressed local myocardial function.

The effect of beta 1-adrenoceptor blockade on cardiac output and organ blood flow in conscious rats

The acute effects of the beta 1-adrenoceptor inhibition by atenolol were investigated on conscious rats. Cardiac output and organ blood flow were measured by 15-microns radiolabelled microspheres during control and 20 min after administration of atenolol (1 mg/kg body wt). Arterial blood pressure and heart rate were measured continuously. Arterial blood gases and pH were determined immediately after the two microsphere injections and arterial blood samplings. The mean arterial blood pressure fell significantly shortly after the injection of atenolol and was reduced by 9% (p less than 0.02) after 20 min. Heart rate fell by 17% (p less than 0.05). The total peripheral vascular resistance increased by 25% (p less than 0.05). At the same time the arterial acid-base chemistry remained unaltered from the control. The cardiac output fell by 24% (p less than 0.05). Blood flow fell to all organs and tissues (0-67%) except to the brain, adrenals, liver, ears and diaphragm. The greatest decrease was seen in perfusion of the adipose tissue (67%) and of the spleen (60%), indicating that the blood flow to these organs are normally highly influenced by beta 1-adrenoceptor stimulation. The estimated work load of the heart was reduced by 20% which correlated well to a reduction of myocardial blood flow to the same degree.

Haemodynamic and metabolic consequences of elevated plasma free fatty acids during acute ischaemic left ventricular failure in dogs

Haemodynamic and metabolic effects of elevated plasma concentrations of free fatty acids (FFA) were studied during acute ischaemic left ventricular failure in closed-chest anaesthetized dogs. Embolization of the left main coronary artery with 50 micron plastic microspheres induced severe depression of left ventricular performance as indicated by a marked increase in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), and marked reductions in LVdP/dtmax, cardiac output and myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2). When stable conditions were reached, eight dogs received a triglyceride emulsion and heparin to raise plasma FFA. This was associated with increased MVO2 and further elevation of LVEDP. In two dogs receiving the triglyceride emulsion but no heparin, plasma FFA was not elevated, and MVO2 and LVEDP were unchanged. In conclusion, elevation of plasma FFA was associated with increased myocardial oxygen requirement and further depression of LV function in dogs with acute ischaemic LV failure.

The effect of non-esterified long-chain fatty acids on blood flow and thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue in the young dog

In vitro experiments have demonstrated that increasing the molar ratio of extracellular non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) to albumin stimulates thermogenesis in brown adipocytes. To test these results, in vivo blood flow and local temperature were measured in perirenal brown adipose tissue (BAT) in puppies during thermogenesis induced by increasing the plasma NEFA: albumin ratio by injection of intralipid and heparin. Plasma NEFA concentration increased to 1.5 mmol X 1-I and plasma NEFA:albumin ratio to 4. Concomitantly, the whole body oxygen consumption rose on average about 100% above baseline level. Plasma noradrenaline concentration increased about three-fold and plasma adrenaline concentration about six-fold. The BAT temperature increased by an average of 0.9 degrees C. However, since BAT blood flow was simultaneously reduced by about 50%, it can be calculated that the local heat production was also reduced. Consequently, the increase in whole body oxygen consumption was not due to stimulation of BAT thermogenesis. It is concluded that in vivo assessment of BAT thermogenesis requires concomitant measurements of both local BAT temperature and blood flow.

Lipid-mediated impairment of normal energy metabolism in the isolated perfused diabetic rat heart studied by phosphorus-31 NMR and chemical extraction

The relationship between extracellular palmitate and the accumulation of long-chain fatty-acyl coenzyme A with that of high-energy phosphate metabolism was investigated in the isolated perfused diabetic rat heart. Hearts were perfused with a glucose/albumin buffer supplemented with 0, 0.5, 1.2 or 2.0 mM palmitate. 31P-NMR was used to analyze phosphocreatine and ATP metabolism during 1 h of constant-flow recirculation perfusion. At the end of perfusion, frozen samples were taken for chemical analysis of high-energy phosphates and the free and acylated fractions of coenzyme A and carnitine. Perfusion of diabetic hearts with palmitate, unlike control hearts, caused a time-dependent and concentration-dependent reduction in ATP, despite normal and constant phosphocreatine. Concentrations of acid-soluble coenzyme A, long-chain-acyl coenzyme A and total tissue coenzyme A were elevated in palmitate-perfused diabetic hearts, while the total tissue carnitine pool was decreased. Increases in long-chain-acyl coenzyme A correlated with the reduction in myocardial ATP. This reduction in ATP could not be adequately explained by alterations in heart rate, perfusion pressure or vascular resistance.

The effect of palmitate and lactate on mechanical performance and metabolism of cat and rat myocardium

Fourteen isolated ejecting hearts were perfused with a suspension of red cells in Tyrode solution. In five hearts comparison was made between glucose alone as substrate and glucose plus free fatty acid (palmitate). In five hearts the effect of additional lactate was studied. In the remaining hearts no substrate changes were made (controls). There were only transient changes in cardiac output of the hearts (at fixed mean aortic pressure) when the perfusion media were switched from one to another. There were no consistent steady-state changes in myocardial oxygen consumption, mean external power, efficiency, cardiac output or coronary blood flow associated with any of the changes in substrate consumption. Thus we were unable to confirm an increase in oxygen consumption and decrease in efficiency associated with either free fatty acid or lactate as substrates. Isolated rat trabeculae were deprived of exogenous substrate; their mechanical performance remained constant for approximately 10 min. Subsequent deterioration was restored by any of the three exogenous substrates. We conclude that there is no oxygen wasting effect of these substrates as has previously been postulated, nor any deleterious effect of changing exogenous or endogenous carbohydrate or lipid substrate.

The effect of elevated arterial free fatty acid concentrations on hemodynamics and myocardial metabolism and blood flow during ischemia

In the present investigation the effect of elevated arterial free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations on regional myocardial blood flow (MBF), myocardial metabolism and hemodynamics during ischemia was studied in anesthetized dogs. Ischemia was induced by stenosis of the left interventricular coronary artery. Mean poststenotic coronary artery pressure was kept constant during ischemia. FFA concentrations were elevated by intravenous injection of heparin (group I), intralipid (group II) or both substances (group III). After elevation of FFA concentrations by heparin alone or together with intralipid, heart rate gradually increased, while aortic pressure tended to decrease. Slight elevation of arterial FFA levels (up to 0.30 mM, group I, and up to 0.53 mM, group II) had no significant effect on total MBF and uptake of glucose, FFA, and oxygen or release of lactate in the ischemic myocardium. However, elevating arterial FFA levels up to 0.81 mM (Group III), significantly decreased total MBF (6%), endo/epicardial blood flow ratio (13%), and oxygen uptake (34%) in the ischemic myocardium and resulted in release of lactate from this area. The release of potassium, inorganic phosphate and H+ as well as plasma CO2 concentration were not influenced. Neither was the uptake of glucose and FFA. These findings suggest that elevated arterial FFA concentrations can decrease MBF and augment lactate production in the ischemic myocardium.

Myocardial metabolism and performance during sodium salicylate infusion in dogs

The effect of sodium salicylate on net myocardial free fatty acid (FFA) uptake, myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2), and the mechanical activity of the heart was studied in eight intact, anesthetized dogs. Sodium salicylate was given intravenously under basal conditions and during isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis. Under basal conditions, sodium salicylate significantly reduced arterial FFA concentration, but did not influence net myocardial uptake of FFA, and MVO2 was unchanged. During isoproterenol infusion sodium salicylate reduced arterial FFA concentration 28% (P less than 0.01) and significantly reduced net myocardial uptake of FFA from 44.5 +/- 9.0 (mean +/- S.E.M.) to 22.3 +/- 2.1 mumol/min-100g tissue (P less than 0.05) and MVO2 from 20.3 +/- 2.2 to 160 +/- 1.9 ml/min-100g tissue (P less than 0.05). The reduction in MVO2 could not be explained by reduced mechanical activity of the heart. Most probably the mechanism for the reduction in MVO2 effected by sodium salicylate during isoproterenol infusion was mediated by reduced myocardial FFA consumption.

Effect of free fatty acids on myocardial function and metabolism in the ischemic dog heart

Since elevation of plasma concentrations of free fatty acids (FFA) increases myocardial oxygen consumption without influencing mechanical performance in normal hearts, it was the purpose of this study to determine whether FFA would modify mechanical performance at limited oxygen supply. Left coronary blood flow was reduced by gradual clamping of a shunt from the left carotid artery until moderate ventricular dilatation supervened. Left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), its maximal rate of rise (dP/dt) and stroke volume (SV) were unchanged or slightly reduced. The ischemia resulted in a decrease in myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO(2)) from 9.7+/-1.1 ml/min to 7.9+/-0.8 ml/min, and myocardial lactate uptake was reduced or reversed to excretion. Increasing the plasma concentrations of FFA from 359+/-47 muEq/1 to 3688+/-520 muEq/1 by intravenous infusion of a triglyceride emulsion and heparin resulted in further ventricular dilatation, accompanied by increased excretion of lactate. The ventricular decompensation and enhancement of anaerobic myocardial metabolism associated with increased uptake of FFA was not related to changes in coronary flow, MVO(2), or LVSP. dP/dt and SV were virtually unchanged. Intravenous infusion of glucose/insulin, which lowered plasma concentrations of FFA, reversed ventricular dilatation and lactate excretion. The data support the hypothesis that high concentrations of FFA play a significant role in increasing myocardial oxygen requirement and thereby promote depression of contractility of the hypoxic heart in experimental animals.