Cellular response to reperfused oxygen in the postischemic myocardium. Chung, Youngran, and Thomas Jue. Biological Chemistry Department, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616-8635
APStracts 3:0015H, 1996.
Perfused rat heart experiments focused on determining the critical oxygen level in postischemic myocardium. After a 20 min global ischemia, reperfusion began with oxygen saturated, saline buffer reflowing at different rates (0.5-12 ml/min). The 1H NMR signal of the Val E11 Mb gave an index of the intracellular oxygenation, while the 31P NMR spectra reflected the high energy phosphate and pH status. At the same time, physiological monitors recorded both contractile function and oxygen consumption. Biochemical analysis determined the lactate concentration. Within 6-12 minutes of reperfusion, the O2 reached a new steady state, which depended directly on the flow rate. Below 12ml/min reflow, the postischemic O2 level was consistently lower than the corresponding control values. PCr, Pi, pH, MVO2, and lactate formation rate exhibited similar linear relationship with MbO2 saturation in both the control and postischemic myocardium. It appears that neither the cellular energy production nor the steep intracellular oxygen gradient has changed substantially in the postischemic myocardium.

Received 17 April 1995; accepted in final form 19 December 1995.
APS Manuscript Number H366-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Heart Circ. Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 22 January 96