Blood flow and relative tissue oxygenation of normal and partially ischaemic myocardium: effect of CO2.

1. Ischaemia of a portion of the myocardium in the dog heart was produced by tying off a small branch of a coronary artery: flow in the occluded region was reduced from 5 to 82% of the initial value. 2. The effect of inhalation of 5% CO2 in air on relative tissue PO2 and perfusion in normal and partially ischaemic myocardium was determined. 3. After 10 min inhalation of 5% CO2, there was an increase in tissue perfusion as measured by hydrogen desaturation; the increase was inversely proportional to the degree of flow reduction. 4. Relative intramyocardial PO2 measured polarographically, decreased with occlusion and increased after CO2 inhalation; the changes were inversely proportional to the degree of reduction in PO2. 5. The increase in flow after CO2 inhalation suggests that partially ischaemic myocardial tissue is capable of further vasodilation.