[Effect of gradual reperfusion on the restoration of the pump function and energy stores of the heart after ischemia].

The contractile and pump function of guinea pig hearts was evaluated 40 min after total normothermic ischemia and 30 min reperfusion. A half of the hearts was reperfused with rapid mode restoration of the preischemic coronary flow ("sudden" reperfusion, SR), while the other half was reperfused with gradual mode restoration (GR) of coronary flow by 2 ml/min each 4 min till the initial level. The cardiac output and external work after SR constituted 49 and 28 of initial values, while after GR-87 and 71%, respectively. A distinct rise in minimal diastolic left ventricular pressure in the former group indicates a deteriorated filling of the heart. The total pool of adenine nucleotides and ATP content remained almost unchanged after GR: while after SR they decreased to 61 and 54% of the initial level, and myocardial lactate content was three times higher. The beneficial effect of GR seems to be due to better preservation or restoration of ATP content and more profound relaxation of the heart.