In situ detection of myocardial infarction in pig by measurements of aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) activity in the interstitial fluid.

Microdialysis probes permeable to large molecules (m.w. cut-off > 200 kD) were introduced into the myocardium of anaesthetized pigs in order to evaluate their potential for early detection of myocardial ischaemia and enzyme markers for infarction. The left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded for 30 min and the myocardium was reperfused for 3 h. The concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), lactate, glucose and selected free amino acids were measured. The levels in the interstitium of ischaemic and non-ischaemic myocardium were compared with those in plasma from the coronary sinus as well as from a peripheral vein. Twelve probes were inserted in six pigs and withdrawn after 8-72 hours of sampling. No complications occurred. Simultaneous 100% increase of ASAT and lactate was found in myocardial dialysates after 30 min of ischaemia. ASAT activity remained at that level until the end of reperfusion. The plasma peak ASAT level was not attained until after 3 h. Glutamate was the only amino acid which increased significantly in the myocardial interstitium during ischaemia, peaking after 30 min of reperfusion. Dialysates from the unaffected myocardium showed no effects on lactate, ASAT or glutamate. The use of myocardial microdialysis for pre- and postoperative recordings in man is discussed.