Metabolism and fine structure of the Mg++-procaine-arrested perfused heart.

Arrested rabbit hearts were perfused in normothermia for up to two hours by a cardioplegic erythrocyte-containing solution having an increased Mg++-, procaine-, and a reduced NaCl-content. After this time, hearts did not reveal any sign of anoxic or toxic damage in their metabolic pattern, in their ultrastructural picture, and in their functional capacity after reanimation. Despite a small loss in adenine nucleotide content, the ATP/ADP ratio and the PC content were raised. The contents of glycogen and glycolytic intermediates were normal or slightly reduced. After two hours of perfusion mitochondria showed no swelling, their membrane structure was unaltered. The myofibrils were well aggregated. The number of glycogen granules was increased. Hearts were reanimated after two hours of cardioplegia and could be loaded by pressure and volume.