Early changes in contractility and coronary blood flow in the normal areas of the ischemic porcine heart.

The regional responses of normal myocardium distant from an ischemic area were studied during acute anterior descending occlusion in the open-chest chloralose-anesthetized pig. Three markers of regional response in both normal and ischemic areas were used: surface ECG electrode, a force gauge in series with left ventricular outer wall fibers, and coronary blood inflow to each region as determined by electromagnetic cuff-probes. Following brief anterior descending artery occlusion (120 sec)., a characteristic rapid decline in contractile force and evolution of TQ-ST segment changes was observed in the ischemic area. In contrast, in the distant area increases in contractil force (p less than 0.001) and coronary blood flow (p less than 0.002) occurred. These distant responses were essentially obliterated following transection and cannulation of the artery supplying this region (p less than 0.05). The findings are consistent with a reflex neurovascular mechanism operating within the intact heart. This reflex is rapidly activated in order to maintain adequate levels of cardiac performance despite sudden loss of functional myocardial mass.