Myoglobin function in the isolated fluorocarbon-perfused dog heart.

An isolated dog heart preparation perfused with hemoglobin-free fluorocarbon suspension has been developed to study the role of myoglobin in myocardial function. The coronary vasculature was perfused at constant flow, with oxygen consumption determined from arteriovenous PO2 differences. Muscle function was assessed by measurement of pressures generated in a latex balloon placed in the left ventricle. The perfusate consisted of 20% perfluorotributylamine and 80% Ringer's lactate with 16 mM glucose. Steady-state oxygen consumption decreased from 0.30 to 0.11 ml/min per gram dry weight left ventricle, as perfusate PO2 decreased from 690 to 150 mmHg. Left ventricular pressure generation and oxygen consumption were determined before and after addition of 8 mM sodium nitrite, which changed functional ferrous myoglobin to high-spin ferric myoglobin. Over the range of perfusate PO2 studied, nitrite addition did not alter mechanical performance or myocardial oxygen consumption. These data suggest that those conditions necessary for substantial myoglobin-facilitated diffusion of oxygen in the myocardium are not present in the isolated fluorocarbon-perfused dog heart.