[The relationship between endothelin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha and myocardial microcirculation dysfunction].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between endothelin-1 (ET-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha and myocardial microcircular dysfunction during coronary microembolization (CME).

METHODS

CME was induced in 10 miniswine by selective infusion of microspheres (45 microm) into left anterior descending artery (LAD). We measured (1) coronary sinus level of ET-1, TNF-alpha using radioimmunoassay; (2) CFR, a measure of microvascular integrity, using Doppler flow wire in LAD at baseline and different doses of microspheres.

RESULTS

CFR decrease significantly with different doses of microspheres (vs. baseline, P < 0.05). Level of ET-1, TNF-alpha increased significantly with doses of 5 x 10(4) and peaked with 10 x 10(4). Interestingly, ET-1 progressively decrease while TNF-alpha persistently elevated from doses of 12 x 10(4) to 15 x 10(4). There are reverse correlations between ET-1 and CFR (r = -0.31, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The extent of microvascular injury wasn't linearly related to the extent of ME, where, it closely associated with myocardial ET-1.