Effect of diltiazem and propranolol on left ventricular segmental relaxation during temporary coronary arterial occlusion and one month reperfusion in conscious dogs.

Using sonar microcrystals implanted in conscious dogs, we have characterized left ventricular segmental relaxation (LVSR) by measuring the mean rate to half end-diastolic thinning (RHEDT) and the late diastolic thinning fraction (TF). In protocol 1 (five nonischemic dogs), RHEDT correlated with changes in left ventricular dP/dt (r = .87) and systemic arterial pressure (r = -.80) but not with alterations in heart rate. Only systemic arterial pressure importantly influenced TF (r = -.65). In protocol 2 (21 dogs), LVSR paralleled net systolic segmental wall thickness (NET) during both 2 and 4 hr of coronary occlusion followed by 1 month reperfusion. Both LVSR and NET remained depressed during 2 and 4 hr of coronary occlusion and through 24 hr of reperfusion, but both also gradually improved afterwards. In protocol 3, 31 dogs underwent 4 hr of coronary occlusion with 1 month of reperfusion. Among these animals, 11 dogs (group S4) received saline after 1 hr of occlusion, nine dogs (group P4) received propranolol, and 11 dogs (group D4) received diltiazem. Drug therapy was stopped at 2 hr of reperfusion. In segments with mildly and moderately depressed NET, LVSR was significantly increased in group D4 vs group S4 animals during the diltiazem infusion. Expressed as mean percentage of control value +/- SEM, RHEDT of moderately dysfunctional segments in group D4 compared with group S4 measured 53 +/- 10% vs 25 +/- 5%, respectively, at 2 hr of occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (p = .03), 76 +/- 17% vs 28 +/- 8%, respectively, at 4 hr of occlusion (p = .01), and 74 +/- 11% vs 33 +/- 10%, respectively, at 1 hr of reperfusion (p less than .05). The differences in TF at these same time points were 106 +/- 10% vs 70 +/- 9% (p less than .03), 105 +/- 7% vs 65 +/- 16% (p less than .02), and 106 +/- 11% vs 74 +/- 13% (p less than .05), respectively. The improvement in LVSR occurred independently of changes in NET. The values of LVSR in the diltiazem-treated dogs fell to the levels of groups S4 and P4 within 24 hr of stopping the intervention. Propranolol did not significantly alter LVSR over the short or long term. The increase in LVSR during administration of diltiazem did not appear to be mediated by changes in contractility or regional myocardial blood flow, but were probably mediated in part by afterload reduction and possibly by a reduction in calcium entry into ischemic myocardium.