An isolated guinea pig heart preparation with in vivo like features.

Hemodynamic and metabolic characteristics of an isolated guinea pig heart preparation perfused with a pyruvate fortified Krebs-Ringer-bicarbonate solution are described. The preparation is stable for more than 90 min with respect to coronary flow, heart rate, left ventricular pressure, dP/dt, oxygen consumption, and myocardial high energy phosphate levels. The changes in coronary flow induced by alterations of perfusion pressure, ischemia, and hypoxia resemble those seen under in vivo conditions. The preparation also exhibits concentration dependent and reproducible changes in coronary resistance upon administration of adenosine and papaverine. The in vivo like features of this preparation can be mainly attributed to the use of pyruvate as additional and preferentially utilized substrate. The preparation appears to be suitable for quantitative studies of myocardial metabolism and heart function as well as for investigations of the coronary system.