An experimental study of the effect of glucose-insulin-potassium solution on energy metabolism of infarcted cardiac muscle.

The effect of GIK (glucose-insulin-potassium) infusion on the energy liberation of the infarcted heart muscle was studied experimentally in relation to epicardial electrocardiographic changes and cardiac dynamics. In the case of 30-min coronary ligation, the spread of the zone showing ST segment elevation was not depressed significantly, but the mean voltage values of ST elevations were suppressed in the peri-infarcted area, and the uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation in the peri-infarcted area was also obscured by the GIK treatment. Cardiac dynamics did not change with GIK treatment. On the other hand, in the 60-min coronary ligation, the spread of the zone showing ST segment elevation was reduced significantly and the negative inotropism induced by coronary ligation was suppressed with GIK infusion. However, the uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation in the infarcted area and in the peri-infarcted area did not show any significant improvement. Therefore, the disturbed energy metabolism of the peri-infarcted area of 30-min ligation might be improved by the effect of GIK infusion. These data suggested that the GIK infusion improved the energy liberation of the so-called twilight zone at 30 min after ligation, and then reduced the genuine infarcted zone after 60 min of ligation.